davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

that even in 1908 the limitations upon the operation of certain iron mines, due to insufficient development and equipment, were at times a factor"
 The Iron Age is at a loss to account for the increased share of the foundry pig iron taken by the southern mer- chant furnaces in 1908, but it finally concludes that the northern foundries are taking of choice a larger propor- ton of southern irons. They can get in these times what they want, and the Iron Age attributes the gain of the south to this use of what it is pleased to call higher phosphorous irons for mixtures.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Deep Flowing In Alabama

After remitting a subscription price to The Age-Herald, William Sammon of Florence, Ala, says:
 "Who told the editor of The Age Herald that they blow 12 inches deep in Illinois? They may do it at the insane asylum. but nowhere else"
 We do not know what to do with MT Sammon, who is a regular sub scriber. It would not do to turn him over to Secretary Wilson, for he might iscue a subpoena and carry him to Washington to be tried. or he might put some of his sleuths on his track.
 We would be glad to hear from Mr Sammon as to how deep the Illinois farmers do blow. It is safe to say that even the worst farmers in Illinois blow twice as deep as the farmers of Ala bama do. In Alabama it is not neces- sary to use a blow that brings the sub-soil to the surface, but it is neces- sary that the soil be stirred to the depth of one foot if plants in it are to become we'll rooted. MT. Sammon should ask the department of agricul- ture to send him it's stock of pub lished information on the value of deep blowing. He is not keeping up with the procession, and all subscribers of The Age-Herald are. expected to do that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Louisville Liouor Trade.

'rNow that Tennessee has put Chatta- nooga, Nashville and Memphis in the dry column, the whisky merchants of Louis vile will cater more than ever to the southern trade" said L. N Epperman of Louisville, representing Chicago whole sale dry goods house.
 'The liquor dealers of the Kentucky metropolis are among our most prominent citizens, and are full of push. They have already a large trade in Alabama, but now that Tennessee is to have statewide prohibition, they will fall heir to a large percentage of the trade enjoyed by the Tennessee cities, and will also help to sup ply the demand for liquor in Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Discussion of Poe.

"One of the most charming and inform ing discussions of Edgar Allan Poe IS found in a paper in the January .South Atlantic Quarterly by Palmer Cobb, as soclate professor of German in the Uni versity of North Carolina said a critic ''The essay referred to is entitled, Poe and Hoffman,, the latter author pelng comparatively little known to the Amerl- can reading public Hoffman was a Ger man of remarkable versality and dled at the age of 40. while Poe was still small boy. Professor Cobb points out Poe's love for German letters, and as Hoffman, like Poe, wrote tales in weird vein, it is easy to find traces of his lit- erary influence on the greatest of Amer ican story-writers.
 But to me the chief value in Cobb articIe-and it is a contribution of high value-is his quick insight into Poes genius and his own felicitous style and power of expression. In the introduction of his article Cobb makes these observa- tions for example, which all must recog- nize as true:
 " His life and his literary achievement stand out in bold relief against the back ground of the life about him. And the two are strangely lacking in points Of contact. Poe voiced none of the strivings of the new civilization growing up around him. His work reflects no phase of life which we may call distinctively American. either from a provincial or from na- tional standpoint His genius assumes, more than is usual, the character of the phenomenal. Other literary men of the time frame their productions in more or less familiar settings They gather up cer- tain threads of the life about them and weave them into the fabric of their work. Hawthorne Longfellow and Lowell hold up to our view people and conditions which are familiar to us. Poe's verse, and in particular his short story, stand en- tirely aloof with respect to contemporary contributions of the same genres. He transports us to a fantastic dream world created by his own fancy and by the skill of his portraiture, forces us to move with him easily in this strange realm, the while we marvel at it's wonders
 'eThe South Atlantic Quarterly Is pub lished at Durham, N. c. The current num- Der contains many interesting contribu- tions, but it, would be worth the price if Professor Cobbs were the only article in it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
MESSAGES FROM MARS.
Alleged Wireless Signals Being Re.
 ceived on Pacific Coast.

From the Boston Advertiser.
 Wireless telegraph operators in San Francisco and on Mt. Wilson have been having an odd experience. The conclu- sions, timidly advanced. are striking and fantastic-but then, much that was fan tastic a few years ago Is now common place. What will be the status a decade hence of things that are fantastic to- day? The odd experience of the Cali fornia wireless operators was the receipt upon their receiving instruments of strange messages in an unknown code. Some days ago the operators on Mt. Will son were surprised at the vast increase in strength of the messages received In this unknown code. It was noticed that the messages came at regular intervals, and that the sending force must have been from instruments possessed of much greater power than any known to be owned in this country or in Japan, and stranger still, the intensity of the message and its clearness increased as the operators ascended the mountain. On the mountain top the crashes of the send ing apparatus came in many times strong CT than the record of instruments at Los Angeles. the nearest station having pow erful instruments. The question, in this unintelligible language of the air, came again and again. It seems repetition of the same query The San Francisco Newsletter ventures the inquiry: Was 1t Mars talking to us? Why not?"
 There was a day when Jules Verne was regarded as the widest of dreamers and romancers. Nowadays young folks find his tales dull reading-outstripped by modern facts. Who would now take SC days to circle the globe? It is high time we opened up communication with Mars
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
IN HOTEL LOBBlES
Splendid Financial Record.

In another column of The Age-Herald will be found the 18th annual statement of the Alabama Home Building and Loan association. It is a splendid showing. Among the assets of the association are first mortgage loans and loans on the association's stock amounting to a,OS2,S59; cash on hand $420s5.1S; real estate Sl7,- 5661s. Among the liabilities are 1896, 4SS 20 in payment on stock by members and SlS6559.s9 as surplus or apportioned profits. The various items total $1,1490Sl.l6
 The Alabama Home is now paying off its 96th series of matured stock.
 The chief officers of the association are H. NJ. Robertson. president; W. A. For ter, treasurer, and W. " M. Robert son, general manager
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

Now, Mir. Politician, why not think of this? Protect the boys Do this your self Many of the 29 who can write are not known to the men or boys who infest the streets at night time, and they can catch them and punish them and stop this damnable business of leading boys astray.
 You cannot stop the man who would take his drink if he wants it; but you can stop the man who leads the boy into it. Get out and do this, you men who talk in public and in print. Need you assistance the writer will do his best to aid and advise you.
 Roosevelt's roustabout tactics in the last days of his administration have been phe- nomenal. The man not only would dic- tate to his cabinet, and departments, and to Congress, but would censor the press of America The man is stark mad. He would lilxen himself unto the Czar of Russia, hide behind his government, and in the name of the government take news papers to task and prosecute them for criticism of official acts.
 No newspaper has the right to criticise or abuse any public man unless such man deserves it; but public acts of public official are public property. and no man in public office, has right to keep private any public act or the reasons therefor.
 One had as well say that the president directors his acts or the reasons for such.
 Roosevelt may have his reasons, but he certainly seems to have gotten himself in the 1imelight of troublesome times recent ly. His actions are queer, to say the least of them.
 Nobody can expect such of Taft.
 A bit of a kicker I have been in this story. So why not keep it up? The grocers have been here in meeting recently and have agreed to keep their prices the same. The railroads are protesting against re- duced rates and keeping up prices. The up and trying to increase them. The paper-makers are adding to the price of white paper. Everybody who makes any, thing is adding to prices.
 Prices for material of any kind-I don't care what it is: whether 1t be groceries or
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS
 OF INTEREST TO PEOPLE OF BIRMINGHAM

IN all walks of life--in everything that
 pertains to everyday living-I believe
 that people should talk plainly to one another There is no reason to use of fensive language or try to get the best of your neighbor in wordy controversy. Anybody can be abusive, and the street gamin can be profane. Lots of people can get cards printed in newspapers when they sign their names because they are supposed to be responsible and reputable citizens. Lots of people like to appear before the footlights of the public in print and propound themselves to the pop ulace as the peoples and the preachers friends. Yet this same galaxy of gall lants will not go out themselves and be real men and save the youth of the community. Anybody who has few dol lars can subscribe a bit. and blow in print and otherwise about his subscrip- ton, and what he is doing; but the man who means what he pretends is the man who goes out and does the real acts.
 I have tried to catch the men or the boys who come around the streets on Saturday nights and sell Age-Herald car rier boys and newsboys half-pnt bottles of whisky; but unfortunately they all know me, and are the meeIest and most modest when they see me. So they know the men in charge of The Age-Herald's different departments. There are some 200 or more boys and men who handle the paper printed by The Age-Herald every Sunday morning. In front of the office and around the corners from dark to o'clock in the morning there are many, and this half-pint liquor trade goes on. The policeman cannot catch those who do it. Why cannot the real men of the Law and Order league who can write cards and make speeches do it.
 I want to see the laws We have en- forded I want to do my part not as a 0elecLlNe put us Isdi CluAoh-bue | do think the windy and worded citizens of this community who can talk and write at random might get out occasionally as themselves and try to save some of the youthful ones of Birmingham from being led into paths which will land them in the East Lake Reform school or in the coal mines
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Mir. Taft's Good Luck.

''President-elect Taft, being a veteran in public service was, it may be imagined, agreeably surprised when congress raised the salary of the President" said an ex- office holder.
 For long years it was difficult to find a member of congress who would intro- duce a bill providing for large federal salaries; much less was 1t expected that congress would pass bill doubling the Presidents salary. But 1t has been done, and the American people <are glad of it.
 "The old salary of $50,00o enabled the President to live and meet his bills, and that was. about all. Hayes is said to have saved $2o,oO0 year out of his sal ary, and Harrison is known to have saved something. but no incumbent of the White House from Hayes day down except liar rison, could save a dollar.
 with MT. Taft it will be better-10C per cent better He should be able to fly high, so to speak, and still leave the presidency s15O.OOO to the good"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

building material or anything else-is as high as it was in 1906, the best year we have had in a decade
 I speak advisedly. because I am trying to eat enough to live, and at the same time build a building in which to live and print this newspaper which will some times put in type what I write.
 It is easier to write than to build. Wherever you go you butt into agree ments. We cannot sell you this unless you buy from so and so. We must keep in with the trade and the trade Is or ganized," so say all the makers of ma terlal.
 So there be Rooseveltism everywhere.
 Now, a word in conclusion in confidence. This writer happened to accumulate an automobile, in which he has taken muah pride and delight; and being invited by a schoolboy friend to spend Mardl Gras week with him in New Orleans he thought of taking this much prided automobile with him. So he asked for freight rate of the round trip variety
 "The rate to New Orleans" said the railroad official, Twill be $6s, and the rate in bringing 1t back will be $s9.'
 ''Why is that difference?' I asked.
 ''It is the regular tariff and cannot be changed for anyone"
 So one can take his belongings away from Birmingham cheap; but one cannot bring them back unless he adds 25 per cent more.
 don't know how it is. but do think we people who have to live here ought to live as cheap as other people in the south, and bring our things here as cheap. And do think we ought to quit scrapping and be honest with ourselves and whether we be preachers or laymen, or religious cole lege professors or wholesale merchants, or retail merchants, or insurance agents, or aldermen, or any other sort of men and I notice the men who really work don't mess much in print-we should get together for the real Birmingham. the home town first, and the manufacturing and business community where life should be real and prosperity the best in the world. So thinks
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
lAAANAA
POOR SAINT VALENTINE.
Time Has Taken Liberties With His
 Once Revered Name.


 Richard Le Gallienne in the February Delineator.
 The paradoxical, not to say absurd. an- tics of Time were never more quaintly exemplihed than in this matter of St. Valentine. Never was insult more whim- sically added to injury than by the ar- slaughtered saint who fell martyred be- meath the clubs of the Emperor Claudius, somewhere toward the end of the Third century, with the joyous and essentially pagan festival which takes his name in vain. Recorded as Ia man of exceptional chastity of character"-to be associated with Ophelia's beautiful, ribald, heart breaking son:
 And I & maid at your window
 To be your Valentine"
 and to be grossly libeled by Charles Lamb as "a rubicund priest of Hymen, attend ed with thousands and tens of thousands of little dovesi'
 The historical fact is that poor St. Val entines reputation as a saint was sacri- feed to that astute policy of the Christian church, which, finding the old pagan fes- tivals too deeply rooted in the popular sentiment, changed their name to that of some Christian saint, and adopted them for its own.
 Thus Valentines day was originally a feast of Februata Juno, and, on the night before boys would draw the names of girls in order to divine who should be their sweethearts in the coming year. The church frowned on this innocent game and substituted the names of saints for weethearts-whereby, 1t may be sup posed, the game would somewhat Ian guish. Yet, in spite of the church, the old pagan manner of playing the game has gone on until this day; and country girls will still pin five bay-leaves to their pillows on St. Valentines eve, hoping tc dream of their young man." and by divers other sorceries strive to wrest from the future the secret naturally nearest to the human heart-the face or name o1 the beloved. For the sternest of saints cannot prevent the world from keeping immortality young. and the birds will go on mating on February IA in spite of al the decrees of the church.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
FOREVER AND A DAY.

By Thomas Bailey Aldrich. I little know or care If the blackbird on the bough Is filling all the air
 With his soft crescendo now For she is gone away,
 And when She went she took The springtime in her look, The peachblow on her cheek, The laughter from the brook. The blue from out the May And what she calls a week Is forever and a day! It's little that I mind NY How the blossoms, pink or white. At every touch of wind Fall a-trembling with delight; For in the leafy lane, Beneath the garden boughs, And through the silent house One thing alone I seek. Until she comes again The May is not the Hay And what she calls wook Is forever and day!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
REFLECTIONS or A BACHELOR.
lew York Press.

From the New York Press.
 A reprehensible thing about lies is how the other fellow may beat you telling them.
 The reason a woman wants to go to the theatre in a carriage once is so she can say she always does.
 No matter how many proposals wo- man had when she was q girl, she can always remember lot more
 When a man believes he has mission in life it's a sign his acquaintances think it's to bore~them to extinction with 1t.
 The average whist player acts as if nobody else in the world was smart enough to take . trick with the ace Of trumps.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
WHO aJAcK ROBINSON" WAS.

From the London Saturday Journal.
 Few people who use the phrase are aware that Jack Robinson" was a real person. AS a politician John Robinson was a great favorite with George IL His political career was long one, for he was a member for Harwich, during 2t years, being on one occasion bitterly attacked by Sheridan. who. denouncine bribery and its instigators. replied to the cries of Name, name" by pointing te Robinson on the treasury bench' excialm' ing at the same time:
 SYes, I could name him as- soon as could say Jack Robinson" and thus orig mated the saying still current
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
AN AFRICAN NIGHT.

From African Highways.
 There is nothing as black as an African night, and I think that it is because the earth, being a deep red, offers no reflec- tion to the faint starlight such as we get in other lands. Instead it swallows up what slight glow there may be- and gives to the darkness dense velvety quality not to be found anywhere else. Overhead the stars glare more brilliantly than in northern attitudes, but they seem to cast no light, and the night is pal pablo. suffocating, appalling, and filled with nameless horror which is quite in- describabl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
New Bank Prosperlnq.

The City Bank and Trust company, Bir- minghams newest banking institution, is making fine record. It opened for busi- ness only on the 14th inst, but President Ben T. Head says the number of ac- counts opened both in the savings and checking departments has surpassed even his expectations.
 The bank has its quarters on Twentieth street. in the Woodward building, and its handsome furnishings have been much admired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
MiSSOuri'S Proposed Tax on Bachelors

The Missouri legislature has elected a United States Senator, and it is now getting down to revenue bills and other measures of practical value. Senator Thomas E. Kinney is on hand again and he is about to reintroduce his bill of last session imposing a tax on bachelors.
 Senator Kinney admits that in Amer ica bachelor is free to remain a bachelor, provided he pays for bache- lorhood. He sternly says no man should be permitted to shirk his plain duties to the state unless he pays a forfeit. There is, in other words, noth- ing compulsory about the Kinney bill. A man can live to the end of his days under it and be a bachelor, provided he pays the state an equivalent
 It is very plain that the Kinney proposition is a gaining one in Mis- souri. It did not command much sup port last year, but this year it seems to be booked for passage. It is gain ing ground in the statewide constitu- ency. All the women favor it-that goes without the saying, and all mar ried men admit it's justice Who is left then to oppose it? Just the bache- lors, and they are ashamed to appear against it in the lobby at Jefferson City. It seems to be booked to go through on it's general merits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Railroad Superintendents.

The ladies who managed the recent bazar for the benefit of St. Vincent s hospital announce that the contest for railroad superintendents in connection with that bazar has been postponed until February ?, Candlemas day.
 The contest has aroused a great deal of interest and the closing scene will take place at the Jefferson theatre with appropriate exercises.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Easter Weather.

''We have been having ideal Easter weather" said an old citizen .'and we may have spring-li weather when East CT comes, but I doubt it. I have been keeping a diary on the seasons for 40 years and I cannot find but one January that averaged quite so high a tempera- ture as we have had this month
 Easter comes this year on April Il, and I fear it will be raw and rough. Still as nothing is so uncertain as tha weather, Easter may be as warm and gentle as the days of the week past"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
NOTHING TO HEAR.

From PUCK
 The society reporter knocked gently at the door of the rich apartment.
 ..Pardon me. madam he said to the beautiful creation in sheath gown who answered his summons, but have you heard what will be worn at the dedica- ton of the new tank at the Ladies' Gym associationY'
 .T have heard--nothing! replied the creation, closing tho door gently.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

This is considered a bad season in this section for governors. Governor Patterson's veto of a prohibition bill was overcome, and Governor Conner got but 1 cent of damages in a libel suit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
Raes}17r,es.,

SURE. ''Was Poe a genius?'' well, he was considerably more of 8 genius than the dunderheads who keep debating the question:"
 BEYOND. Keep your eyes to the front, As you travel along; With hope in your heart, You can't go wrong. Past the vale of defeat Is realm most fair And the goal of your dreams Is waiting you therel
 PLENTY LIKE YOU. Rolling, rolling, rolling The world keeps rolling on And seldom indeed do we sprinkle tear Der the graves of the dead and gone sometimes, when you're thinking your
 place hard to fill And your head is beginning to swell. Ponder this-there are millions who've
 conquered, and yet Were forgotten as soon as they fell
 MAKES HIM MAD.
 It oftentimes fires
 The kindest of men, . When his wifey inquires,
 Now, where have you been?'
 REPLIES. "Whither are we going?" asks the Ma rion County News. Must mean drifting" An Illinois pastor says flirting in church is harmless. There is nothing like in- dorsing what you can't prevent. John l.. Sullivan says President Roose- welt is a great man. Still. that doesn't make it unanimous said George Bernard Shaw. Unfortunate iy, that isn't so.
 An eastern woman wants divorce from her husband because he is so good look ing. Curses on his fatal beauty! An Ohio school teacher hit a boy with poker for winlxing at girls Somebody ought to hit him. the school teacher, with an axe.
 man who bought two oranges in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and found that each one contained little flask of whisky was almost tichled to death A chorus girl in Detroit was arrested for winkihg at bald-headed man in the front row. Are chorus girls to be deprived of their rights? PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

MT. Willetts Gargoyle club is still freely discussed, and the chances are that 1t will last longer than the club that Is a tribute to the memory of the esteemed Ananias.