The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-13
THAT REMINDS ME
Forecast of 1910 Based Scientific Observations Made During the First Twelve Days of
 the New Year
By WALTER HARPER.

I have imposed upon myself, but I have spent 12 of the best days of the new year making these observations and l feel that the public is entitled to the re- sults
 The weather will be variable during the year with much rain, wind and hot sun shine. July and August will be the hot test months in the recollection of the oldest inhabitant''
 The spring will open with floods and the rains and frosts will continue so late that the farmers will be unable to pitch more than half a crop. The other half will be destroyed by the drought that will follow In the summer. Bugs, worms. weevils, wind and other pestilences will destroy what escapes the drought.
 The fruit crop will be 'bardacio11sly killed" once in the early days of March. again in April and still third time dur ing the first lap of May. There Is also some indication that the entire crop still remaining after these three defunctions will drop off during the hot days of July and August.
 Bugs and floods will destroy the cotton crop of the south seven times by the first week In August and the residue will she'd before the early picking in Sep tember. About the only crop that can be depended upon is blackberr1es and lemons.
 My observations which are based on careful scientific calculations indicate that the year 1910 will be full of trouble and disaster.
 Tailors and grocerymen will be more persistent than ever for the collection of bills. The cost of living will be still higher than at present. Breakfast food will he GbtDnoJ In, nia al cd sealed by the government, one egg in a case. Intricate machines will be manu- factured for the spreading of butter on your biscuit thin enough.
 Thousands of people will be destroyed in mine, railroad and other unforeseen dis asters on land and sea.
 Thousands of people will die of measles, whooping cough, plague and plain heart failure. The dead of the year laid side by side and layer upon layer would cover Greater Birmingham 12 deep.
 There will be rumors of war in many of the great capitals of the world. Ma tions will be restless and monarchs will tumble on their pillows fearful and un- easy. Armies will be mobilized and tar get practice will be encouraged.
 President Taft in the secret chambers of the White House will more than once lay aside his polished smile and knit his massive brow with frowns and maledic- tions. From one end of the country to the other he will be denounced by insur- gents and democrats as the most success ful failure that was ever elevated to the presidency.
 My horoscope indicates great excite ment during the last quarter of the year at Washington. There is a marked change in the complexion of the lower legislative branch of the government Os- car W. Underwood is being made speaker and there is a general scuffle for cover on the part of erstwhile leaders in legis- lation.
 In Alabama there has been no lack of front-page features. There has been a general retirement of public men to pri- vate life and the elevation of private men To public life. Never in the history of the state has lhere been such a shaking up or dry bones and lamentation in high places is loud and boisterous
 l see cloudy substance in the edge of the horoscope An, it is a dark-colored horse. A black mare. Look, she is head ed toward Montgomery. Look again, she is feeding on the burmuda in the capitol grounds. I see four other horses trying to drive her off Into the river. But she is unmoved.
 cannot make out who she is, but she is gentle and kind, of an even temperament and conservative n her manners She neither bites the foliage of the trees or tramples on the flowers in the park. She is content to eat the grass and preserve the ornaments
 She seems to be stranger about tho grounds, but seems to be the pet of all with the exception of the group of rfvala who are worrying her
 l am sorry can't make out just who s'she'' is at present