davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
HOW AUTHORS WROTE.

From the Boston Globe.
 Alexander Pope, who was the literary pontiff of his time. thought best when in bed Whenever a thought came to him he would 1ot 1t down on scrap of paper. His servant often found bedclothes and floor covered with white bits containing aphorisms which have now become hack neyed quotations.
 Victor Hugo wrote "Les Miserables' standing up, an attitude which Haw- thorne also assumed when he wrote many of his romances.
 Ono leg thrown over tho arm of a chair or sitting on tho arm of his secretary { chair were NApoleon's favorits positions while dictating to Bourrienhe, position which he varied now and then By batting that scribe on the head or pulling his ears.
 on a lounge dictate to his amanuenses who frequently had to stop writing. so funny the dictated passages seemed td them
 Balzac, in a monks robe. frequently wrote from midnight till noon. taking draughts of strong coffee when drousiness attacked him, and thus shortening his life by many years, no doubt William Morris made one of his famous translations from the Greek while riding on the steam cars. Walt Whitman and Horace Traubel, original in all things were most oroginal fin the position they took while thinking. They were wont, sc MT. Traubel says, to climb upon a pile of lumber and lie down upon their backs In that way each found out what the others best thoughts were.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
Appeal to Citizens.

"As president of the Birmingham Fes- tival association, I feel a deep interest in the Damrosch festival to be held the latter part of this month," said J. E. Shelby. But for MT. Damroschs pluck we would have no festival this spring. The great musical leader is taking all the risk himself and he will give us the most attractive entertainment of the sea- son. If his festival is a financial suc- cess 1t will be easy for the Birmingham association to have a big festival next year. It behooves our public-spirited citi- zens, therefore, to support MT. Dam rosch and make his enterprise pay. There are enough people of refinement here to fill the Hippodrome and with crowded house at the start success will be as- sured
 'The general public have little idea of the actual cost of a high-class music fes- tival. The local expenses alone, includ- ing the rent of the Hippodrome, advertis- ing and chorus rehearsals amount to 5000. Mir. Damrosch brings four distinguished vocal artists and an orchestra of about 50 pieces. The soloists command large pay and the members of the orchestra have to be well paid. In order for MT. Damrosch to break even,' the total re- ceipts of the festival-five performances must be something like 5000"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11

fever Of the Is negro states 14 have a typhoid fever rate which is above the average of the country. As disteibu- ters of typhoid germs the negro is to the whites about in the proportion of 705 to 43S. All these figures were pre- sented by Dr. Stiles in the course of his address at the Tulane university.
 These facts are not pleasant facts to southern people. but it is better to know the situation, for only through knowledge of it can a remedy be found.
 The negro should not be permitted to live in defiance of the simplest rules of health and hygiene, and it is just as important that flies should be screened from his cabin as 1t is that they should be excluded from the fine home of a white man near by. The earth closet should be abolished, and all house flies should be excluded from living apart ments of whites and blacks alike. Dr. Stiles says that in this sanitary work no halfway measures will suffice. In no other way can the south be rid of the burden of disease spread by negro neglect and ignorance.
 The mosquito and the househy have been found guilty of aiding and abet- ting the careless and ignorant, and the chief remedy consists in screens. The screen that will shut out the guilty mosquito will shut out the equally guilty housefiy, and the time is fast coming when in the interest of public health compulsory screening of the homes of both whites and blacks will become necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
WISDOM OF CRAZY SNAKE

l lieve his ongwee, would be chased like john rabbit and left without double blankets and steam heat for weeks and weeks in the foothills?
 To what degree of 1owness is Lo brought! Wherever he goes is somebody working. In many cases the toiler is an Indian. This is too much. I emit tho war whoop-in whisper, but I emit it. I cannot contain it any longer. My patent feathers are pinchins my feet and this war bonnet, with the Blox label inside, is 7h instead of TX, which is the size usually wear. shall never again go on the war path in a full dress shirt with cuffs attached, for they are
 miserable things to sleep in. I fear that my collar is frightfully dirty and my holeproof socks are in need of replenish- ing.
 Listen to me. I am Chitto Harjo, the Daffy Reptile, the Insane Serpent It Is who speak and I wish to goodness I was back among the white folks, where I could get a really decent beefsteak and plenty of creamery butter for my bread. I have spoken. It's the limit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
Entertainment of Teachers.

Birmingham should be proud of the manner in which the State Teachers as- sociation has just been entertained in Birmingham, and proud of the apprecia- tion shown by the visitors" said Dr. J. H. Phillips last night. We had at least 250O teachers present although only about 1900 actually registered their names.
 "We had committees meet them at the station and conduct them to the homes assigned. We had bureaus of informa- ton at the High school. Thirty young men acted as messengers and were at the service of the delegates at all times. The rest rooms at the High school were open constantly, and the domestic science de- partment of the High school served coffee and tea free, and in many other little ways impressed upon the visitors how welcome they were and how much Bir- mingham appreciated having them here. And the visiting teachers appreciated it all fully. They came from every part of the state and comprised as fine a lot of teachers as has ever been assembled in the state''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
Twin Courthouse Problems

Jefferson county neeos a courthouse in Bessemer and a skyscraper jail and courthouse in this city, and now is the time to build them, because structural materials are low-priced.
 The need of the two buildings Is more than apparent-it is fast becom- ing pressingly important. Dr. Bush, state inspector of jails and cotton mills, adds his testimony in favor of skyscraper jail and courthouse in this city. "The county" he says, "has prac- tically no jail at all," and he intimates that a new building is more than ad- visable-it is practically compulsory.
 Imperial Jefferson is to be kept in- tact. It is long county, and 1t would be unjust to the rich south end of it to build a new courthouse in this city without building a courthouse in Bes- semer for the accommodation of busi- ness arising in the south end of the county-the end that abutts Tusca- loosa and Bibb counties. Utigants and witnesses from that end of the county should not be forced to come to this | city.
 The two propositions should be l joined together, and the two should be laid before the qualified voters of the county. Now is the time to build, and the question as to the need of the two buildings is really too plain for argu- ment. Let us be just to Bessemer and
 the south end of the county and let us
 be just to all the rest of 1t by building a skyscraper jail and courthouse on
 the present jail site.
 1 If in the course of time the present | courthouse should become a public library free to every citizen in the l county and the center of a travelling library system for use in the school districts of the county, still another l problem would be excellently and handsomely solved, but this solution
 need not at present be presented. If | it come at all let it come as the nar-
 ural result of time and experience and the needs of a populous county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
Democratic Tariff Policy Defined

The House has passed a roughly drawn tariff bill that pleases neither the revenue people nor the protection- ists It is as unsymmetrical as tariff bill could we'll be. It is, in fact, but raw material to be fashioned and re- made in the Senate.
 The consumers need not expect re- lief from taxation for the benefit of other persons at the hands of the Sen ate. They will get a free discussion of the issues involved and free offer ing of amendments, but the republican party and President Taft are plainly determined to pass a tariff bill that Is in all essential particulars as onerous and unjust to consumers as the pres ent Dingley bill.
 In the House the democrats did sue ceed in securing a rolEcall upon a mo- tion to recommit the Payne bill vita IA instructions to amend it, and 162 democrats out of I'll voted for 1t. The changes that the democrats of the House demanded constitute an excel lent platform to go to the country on next year and in 1912. They ask for a revenue tariff, for graduated in- come tax, for free cotton bagging, for free ties, for free leather and shoes, for placing all trust-made articles on the free list, for a stamp tax on all sales of stocks and on futures of farm products, for American registry of all vessels owned by American citizens, for reduced rates on gloves an1 stock ings, and for free agricultural imple- ments.
 This Is the platform that Mir. Clark, Mir. Underwood and MT. James fought for, and they had the satisfaction of bringing the democratic members al most solidly up to this general demo cratic plan. Upon this plan the demo crats will take an appeal to the coun try next year, when a new Congress is to be elected. It should be matter of state pride that in the long contest Congressman Underwood has stcod shoulder to shoulder with Leader Clark, never deviati1g in the Ieas from consistent democratic policy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
Business lmprovement.

Henry Clews in his review of financial and commercial conditions says in part:
 General trade conditions, while some- what mixed. present decided element of hopefulness. Business is strictly mod crate in volume, yet the tendency is certainly toward improvement, especially where orders have been stimulated " concessions in prices. More activity is shown in iron and steel as the result of lower prices, and the revival of building especially of large structures, is attrib- utable to this cause. The general condi- ton of business Is sound and confidence Is rising. There is no<doubt that re- cooperative influences are steadily at work; costs are being reduced, and only time is required to bring about more normal conditions"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
THE MILLER OF THE DEE.

 By Charles Mackay. There dwelt a miller, hale and bold, Beside the River Dec;
 night
 No lark moro blithe than he; And this the burden of his song Forever used 10 be, T envy no man, no, not l, And no one envies me! ''Thsurt wrong, wy friend," said old King
 Hal,
 "As wrong as wrong can be; For could my heart be light as thine, I'd gladly change with thee And tell me now what makes thee sing with voice 30 loud and free. While am sad, though I'm the King, Beside the River Dee?' The miller smiled and doffed his cap: T earn my bread" quoth he; T love my wife, love my friend, love my children three. owe no one I cannot pay, I thank the River Dee. That turns the mill that grinds the corn To feed my babes and me!'' Good friend" said Hal. and sighed th
 while, Farewell and happy be; But say no more, If thou'sdt be true, That no one envies thee. Thy mealy cap Is worth my crown; Tiw mill my kingdon's fee! Such men as thou are England's boast Oh. miller of the Dee!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
Typhoid and the Negro

The negroes are largely lacking in sanitary methods. They have the meth ods that go with narrow lJing, within a word, a general condiGna of small earnings, almost poverty. This is why the negro was charged by Dr. c. w. Stiles of tie United States Public Healtl and Marine Hosp.tal associn- ton, speaking recently in the medical department of the Tulane university, with bang "a reservoir of Infection,
 sspeclally in diseases that spring from soil infection. Foe example. typhoid
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Reaardinn Lenal Holidays.

It was with deep regret that learned that Good Friday was no longer legal holiday in Alabama" said a prominent business man who is a member of the Episcopal church.
 Tt seems that in the new code April 1S, Thomas Jefferson's birthday anniversary, is among the legal holidays. while Good Friday is omitted. Good Friday is ob- served by the greater part of Christendom and in this country 1t is a legal holiday in many of the states New Jersey has just made 1t legal holiday and the time will soon come when all the states will do likewise. The stock exchanges in all the large cities of the world close on Good Friday, and when the Alabama leg islature meets again it should be urged to Insert the day commemorating the crucifxion in the list of legal holidays. Every one protesting the Christian re- ligion, regardless of sect or denomina- tion, should favor such action"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE HIGH
 PRICE OF EATABLES HERE IN BIRMINGHAM

us. why should We be made to pay an ex- tra tax to do it?
 It is up to the women of the country to declare against these things which inn pose upon them. They don't say much, because it is not within their province to speak in public. The old men of the Uni- ted States Congress and of the state Legis- latures and of the local Boards of Alder men take advantage of them whenever they can; because they think the aver age woman will keep quiet and suffer the burdens put upon her
 Most women are too modest to talk out. They cannot say anything in public when gloves or stockings or lingerie are made higher in price.
 Yet most of the women have to pay for these things out of monthly housekeep- ing allowance.
 The men who sell groceries and meats are keeping quiet. They are keeping up their prices and saying nothing.
 One notices that the wholesale grocers and the retail groeers and the butchers and the people who are selling vegetables and eggs and things to eat in Birming- ham and elsewhere are saying nothing while this tariff bill in Congress in Wash ington ia under discussion
 These people who sell you at tre- mendous profit that which you must have for your family's support-for your daily
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
Marion Crawford,

'The death of Francis Marion Craw- ford recalls a pleasant conversation I had with the distinguished author when he was in Birmingham few years ago." said citizen. ''Mr. Crawford had'visited this city twice-the first time to deliver a lecture In the South Highlands Presby terian church on Pope Leo XIII. did not meet him then, but when he came the second time on private business sat and talked with him an hour or more in the lobby of the Hillman.
 "Mr. Crawford was the son of Thomas Crawford, the famous American sculptor. who had his studio in Rome. The novel, ist was born in Italy, and while he had travelled the world over and for time resided in India, he always called Rome his home. He was a gentleman of simple manners and had nothing of foreign afr He dressed plainly and reminded me in appearance of an American farmer. At the time I met him he was engaged on a life of Leo in collaboration with a Roman ecclesiastic who had been a private sec retary to the late sovereign pontiff. He was a zealous Catholic, and as he had been selected by the NdticaH to d5sisl HI the preparation of a biography of the la mented Pope, I naturally assumed that he had had a close personal acquaintance with the occupant of the papal throne. When asked him about his private audi ences, he said: I never met the Pope privately I had been in groups presented to his holiness and had heard his voice several times, but the etiquette of Leo XIII was perhaps severer than that Of any crowned head of Europe Even the daily visits of Cardinal Rampolla, who was the papal secretary of state, were formal Occasionally items would appear in American papers saying that MT. and Mrs. So and So had had private audi ence with the Pope, but such was never the case Leo received privately all bishops who came to Rome. but with the exception of such dignitaries of the church and diplomats and sovereigns, his private audiences were few and far be- tween
 T asked MT. Crawford how the Pope got along without unbending. He replied that his holiness found all the comrade- ship he needed in four or five persons his physician and his private secretaries. MT Crawford said he regarded Leo XIII as one of the best men who had ever sat in Peter's chair, and one of the greatest statesmen of the nineteenth century"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
PROHIBITION DOWN SOUTH.

From the New York Commercial.
 From Thomas R. Creede, a representa- tive of the Fairgrounds association of East Orange, N. J., who recently visited some cities in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia in the interest of the play grounds movement, comes some interest," ing testimony as to the operation of pro. hibition in those 1ocalities-interesting be-. cause he is himself prohibitionist and has made his observations and drawn his conclusions as an unprejudiced outsider
 At the time of his visit to Lynchburg, a city of about 4O.0oo inhabitants, prohibi- ton had been on trial three weeks and the people as whole seemed to like the thing and to be satisfied with itj up to that time there had been no arrests for drunkenness. and the business interests did not appear to have suffered materially from the change.
 At Charlotte, N. C., with 600O0 popula- ton, Mir. Creede found a city with two- years experience of prohibition-and it was getting along far worse than Lynch burg. many drinking clubs having sprung up, and miscelleaneous drinking, or the results of 1t, being much in evidence.
 As to Atlanta, the largest of the trio, with population around 100000 and with three months experience of prohibition behind 1t, this northern investigator con- cludes that the morals of her people are much worse than under tho license sys- tenn. Atlanta "has greatly retrograded under the dry law" he says There Is more drunkenness since prohibition went into effect three months ago than has been seen in that city any time in the past twenty-five years.'
 It may be taken for granted that Ob- server Creede was lon the hunt for good results from prohibition and would have been gratified to have found them. Under these circumstances, his honesty forbid ding him to shut his eyes to evil results, his conclusions are peculiarly significant. The Mobile Register, after careful con sideration of his report, stamps it as "in- conclusive" and as to the conditions in Atlanta as described, 1t says:
 "To this it will be answered that the police statistics do not show such excess or even as much drunkenness, as in form CT times There Is but one way of ex- plaining this confiict--namely, that there Is actually less of drunkenness in that class which formerly showed most fre- quently in the police court, while the young men of the drinking clubs are not called to account now any more than they were in the past. Instead of being put under arrest, they are sent home in cabs or taken in charge by their friends"
 And to the Registers explanation and to all apologists for the operation of the "dry' system in the south 1t may be an- swered that 1t is as plain as a pikestaff that in Charlotte and Atlanta "prohibi- ton does not prohibit'-we have the word of an impartial, conscientious prohibition ist-investigator to that effect.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11
No Building In Sight.

"There Is nothing new in the matter of erecting a building on the lot at the cor ner of Fourth avenue and Twentieth street" said Gen. L. V. Clark, owner of the property, last night. We have been negotiating with several persons looking to the erection of building, but nothing definite has been done The most re- cent plans under consideration contem- plated the erection of either two or six story building, and can say that if either is built on the lot 1t will be built by my self.''
 There is absolutely no truth in the statement that we had closed a deal with General Clark for new building, said Hubert A. Drennen last night. "We have been figuring with General Clark for several months and have had the matter up during the past few days, but no trade has been made"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11

sustenance-are standing aside and gently permitting you to pay more for every- thing that goes to make you more com- fortable when you go out to purchase from them what you need to eat. -4
 The packer, the grocer. the butcher and the politician seem to have the country in the swing The farmer gets but little. He is the man who suffers. He takes what he can get for that which he raises -and works his life out to produce. The fellow who is in the city trust is the man who makes the farmer take what he wants to pay; and the consumer pay what he wants to charge
 If the people who must live will rise up In arms quickly they will buy those things they need much cheaper.
 Eatables in Birmingham are at outra- geous prices. With the tariff going up on everything else, how can they be kept so high unless there be an agreement It is an outrage Somebody is responsible, and that somebody must be getting something out of 1t which comes out of the pockets of every man, woman and child in Bir- mingham.
 We should live cheaper in Birmingham. If we don't, somebody Is going to get into the game to see why; and it is time the men and women who pay the bills were looking into why prices for eatables here are so high.