davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27

stars are seen through it. but we will
never smell that gas, and IL we did it
would not be nearly as obnoxious as a
Whit of gasoline from an automobile.
Comets are harmless anyway. There is
not bit of record that, numerous as
they are they ever did any harm to any
planet star or individual. They are strict
ly astronomic and spectacular, and that
is all. This old earth has passed through
several comets tails, and nobody was in
eonvenieneed or injured. Possibly on
May IS 1t may pass through the tail of
Halleys comet, but no one will expe-
rience any physical pain, however much
mental or nervous strain they may be
under. The head of the. comet and the
earth will not come together, and If they
should no one would be the worse for it.
Halleys comet will have no more effect
upon us than the moon has-really not as
much, for the moon moves the sea and
aids vegetation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
More Demonstration Farms

BY writing to Dr. Seaman A. Knapp of
the department of agriculture at Wash
ington demonstration farm can be es-
tablshed in every beat in every county
in this state. And that is just what Ala
bama needs, for when a farmer can see
will take the lesson TO himself, whereas
if he reads about it he will not give the
subject moments thought. The Amer
lean farmer is practically from Missouri
in such matters
Every beat certainly possesses at least
one wideawake farmer who will consent
to be instructed once month by a gov
eminent demonstration as to how he
should grow crops. A farmer who is will
ling to be so instructed has but to write
to DR.. Knapp to be put in a way to
SCOulC SuOH n VINO
knows it all would not do this. but all
farmers are not loaded up with conceit
to that extent.
When Alabama is we'll sprinkled with
demonstration farms we will begin to
have a new Alabama, and we will not
get it sooner. We will not get 1t when
single mule, none too large or well-fed,
does the ploughing for a crop We will
not get it while we raise but 10 bushels
of corn to the acre. The establishment
of demonstration farms in every beat in
the state is the states greatest hope and
surest means of development. Demon
stration farms mean progress, food crops,
intelligent agriculture, and business sense
applied on the farm. We cannot have
too many of them.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
REALTY OF THE WINTER ALPS

FROM St. Nitiioids HioooNiiiN'
To the lover of the outdoors as ar
ranged by nature in the winter months
the Alps are indeed attractive. No
where do you see the snow of purer
Wilderness. Nowhere does it assume so
many artistic forms, whether seen on
the mountain bush or in great masses
on the edge of cliff, from which it
may fall 1000 feet in an avalanche that
sounds like a battery of great guns,
such is it's force and weight. The ice,
both blue and white, glitters like steel
as it reflects the suns rays, whether
on the glaciers of Monte Rosa and the
Matterhorn, 10000 feet above the sea,
or in the ice made by the coming of
winter in the lower valleys. And =
would be hard to find spot elsewhere
on the earth with the sunshine so
bright and so constant In fact, the
days are brilliant with illumination,
while the air, touched with the frost
and laden with ozone, not only stimu-
lates but exhilarates. Not strange is
it that nature calls every one who is
able to come into the open. and 1t Is a
call that few can resist, even if one
merely desires to stand or stroll about
and content himself with the superb
picture that is ever to be seen when
the frost king has the Alps in his con-
troll
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
Postmaster Designate Steele

Mr.. Carter, the retiring postmaster,
politician, and Mr.. Bowron, whom
many of the business men of the city
desired to have appointed, is not
politician by birth or education. He
has not got a political hair in his
head. Mr.. Steele, the appointee, is,
however, an ardent young republican
who runs with the machine.
The meaning of this appointment is
plain. Mr.. Taft fears opposition in
1912, or rather Mr.. Hitchcock does
for him, and both propose to be ready
to secure delegates at that time against
all corners, especially from Africa.
This view of the case may not have
been brought to the Presidents at
tention, and then again he may know
the situation from A to u, but whether
he does or not Mr.. Hitchcock. our
political Postmaster General, does and
he is looking after the Taftian polit-
ical fences first and the postoffice after
ward.
| Mr.. Steele is the secretary of the
republican state committee, and, like
Mr. Hitchcock, the big boss, he will,
no doubt be able to mingle politics
and mails in a manner highly salts
factory to the organization republicans
This is why he is to become postma ster.
and as things go in this country and in
this section then are small grounds
for grumbling, for, after all, Mr.. Steele,
a gentleman of proper integrity, will
conduct the postoffice efficiently, and
his side-line of politics need not con-
Germ the wayfaring democrat. He is
a typical appointee of the period.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
GladStone'S Son a Peer

Herbert John Gladstone has been "ele-
waited" to the peerage. His father re-
jected a like honor twice and the peer
age was never elevated to his level. and
he died a commoner. The sons record in
office has been fairly creditable, and now
he is to become the first governor general
of South Africa.
1t is not yet known what his new title
is to be. He may become Lord Glad
stone, or he may select a title wholly dis
connected with the work of William
Ewart Gladstone, his father. The new
peer is the third son of the great com
moner, and he has been in office nearly
all his active life, beginningf in 1881 as
his fathers private secretary.
1t is said that s'the Grand Old Man" Gre
ated more peers than any other premier
In recent times. The premier really Gre
ete- peers, because he dominates them
and, he King invariably accepts the nom
nations of his chief adviser Mr.. Bal
four and Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man. two recent premiers, also refused
SEATS in the house of lords preferring tc
remain In Touch with their respective par
ties from seat in the house Of commons
A title adds no strength to a politica
leader, but Herbert Gladstone is neither
and title will perhaps aid him when he
goes to South Africa, not to rule, fol
South Africa also has premier, blu
to fill the ornamental and perfunctory pc
sitjon of governor general.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
Had Him Ratified

From the New York SUM-
New Yorker decided to give dinner
the other night in recognition of hos
pitality showered upon him by his FRIENDS
this winter He asked two women ne
knew to go to a jewelers. and pick out
some little souvenirs for the women
guests The host did not know 1t, put
a detective accompanied the gifts to the
house. Each woman found at her place
at the table a handsome box. When these
were opened there were cries of admira-
ton. One woman drew out diamond
ring, another an emerald brooch, another
a diamond crescent, a fourth a necklace
Of pearls, another diamond tiara, and
40 on. until the outpBt of the boxes rep
resented about $4,000. The host had
forced a smins wiz, - Srst box was
onenad. As szsssn trinket revealed seemed
NOR, costly than the last his jaw 1eii.
PRESENTATION began to trickle down ms
face. which got so red that the women
became alarmed. Then they explained tha'
the Jewels were a joke and were DOR
vowed for the occasion
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
Timid Folks and the Comets Tail

About April l Halley's comet will APP
pear to The naked eye, and timid. people
are beginning to fear the effects of the
comets immense tail. This fear has,
however, no scientific support whatever
Even the head of comet is nebuous and
weighs very little. although millions of
miles in diameter. The suns rays are
more powerful than the head of the
comet. The suns rays force some of
the gas of the head or neuclus back in
. long stream, and this long stream of
gas is the comets tail we read so much
about The tail becomes longer as II APP
proaches the sun, simply because the sun
RAYS thus have more effect upon it. When
It roes away from the sun the tail is
reabsorbed in the neuclus, and the comet
has no tail so far as we know until IT
approaches 70 years hence the sun again
xhs tel y 50 thin and gaseous that
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
Thou art cen ms just man
A. e'er my Conversation COPIED withs
Hamlet.
Building Battleshps for Projections SAKE

Former Secretary of the Treasury Shaw
IL showing how helpless we would be in
case of a war with Japan, because we
have no merchant marine that can in war
times carry supplies, coal and the like
He is promoting ship subsidies, which
he has a right to do, even if he has to
Join Captain Hobson in evol1ing an
imaginative war with Japan. 1t is the
the two countries 1000 miles more or
less apart, and no one need object if he
overworks his imagination,
should overwork his imagination when
the programme for the coming year in
the respect of the navy is taken up. The
the building of two 26,OOo-ton ships, while
some think one soOOSton ship would be
better. 1t is said the House committee
on naval affairs will report in favor of
the building of two 2S,OOO-ton ships and
IL lesser vessels.
England, Germany and Japan are con-
structing battleships and armored cruis-
ers up to their financial capacity and
I even beyond that capacity. They are in
viting bankruptcy, or at least deficits
and heavy taxation. Isolated as America
is, there is no reason why we should
enter this breakneck race The policy of
building two battleships a year is a COM
promise, and it will assuredly give us all
the naval power we will ever need in
order to maintain a good position in the
world. Congress should not build in ex-
cess of the compromise.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27

From the New York Sun.
The state OF Mississippi and the demo-
cratic party are to be congratulated upon
Greenville to the seat occupied by the
late Anselm ]. McLaurin in the United
States Senate.
When the Legislature met at Jackson on
January a the choice of former Coy.
James X. vardaman seemed more than
probable. In fact, the opposition en-
tered the contest with a feeling that his
triumph was a question of only a few
days, perhaps hours. Needing So on the
first ballot, and none of the other as
pirants, of whom there were seven or
eight could command more than third
of his strength All of the candidates adj
dressed the legislature on the issues of the
day to give it a taste of their quality.
The speech of Mr.. Percy, who had never
held public office, was conservative in
tone but not without fire and courage,
and in striking contrast to the remarks
of the former governor, who talked about
his hobby, the negro question, with char
acteristic narrowness of view. On the
first ballot, and in fact until his success
came with the last, Mr.. Percy received
more votes than any other candidate OPP
posing Mr.. Vardaman. Gradually, as the
balloting went on from day to day, the
Percy total rose until it was more than 50
on February II, when Representative Bush
of JEFF Davis county introduced a resolu-
ton reciting that whereas the people of
Mississippi were weary of deadlock
that interferred with the. business of leg
slation, the lowest candidate be dropped
after each ballot. A vote on Mr.. Bushs
resolution was prevented amid great dis
order, but it was apparent that the end
was near.
1t is to Mr. Pereys credit that he
did not hesitate in an early stage of the
contest to take issue sharply with Mr.
vardaman on the negro question, and pro-
claim him an enemy of progress and
unworthy on the score of his radicalism
to represent Mississippi in the Senate.
As there must have been a number of
men in the legislature beside Mr. Varda
mans supporters upon negro education,
Mr. Percys course was impolitic, to say
the least, Dul ne ~ hiiOWH diioii6 Ills
neighbors as a man of bold and resolute
conviction.
Mississippi has now rejected James X.
Vardaman twice and bestowed senator
ships upon conservative democrats. John
Sharp Williams and Leroy Percy. The
conservatism of John Sharp is at times
open to challenge, as he is first of all
an intense party man and not above petty
tricks of rhetoric, but Mr.. Percy has
never been a politician, and there seems to
be nothing pinchbeck in his conservatism.
Although the latter has his spurs to win
at Washington, Mr.. Williams will have TO
control a loose tongue sand think before
he speaks IL he is to outshine the modest
lawyer and planter of Greenville, II we
NAV Judge Mr.. Percy's caliber from the
competitive speech he made to the legisla-
ture
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
PRAIRIE FREIGHTERS

Placerville, Cal, simultaneously July 1.
1861 covering the 2OOo-mile trip in II
days.
For the traffic between these two points
100 Concord coaches were required and
275O horses. However, these were only a
fraction of Holidays equipment. He
operated scores of smaller lines, branches
and feeders, covering routes aggregatns
1000 miles in length with 5000 mules ant
coaches and express wagons and So
freight wagons. However this Napoleoni
transportation magnate was crippled Y
the Indian depredations of 1864, 1865 az
1866. All his stations for a distance
400 miles were burned, scores Of his mi
were killed and hundreds of head of D.
livestock stolen In 1866 ne sold out ado
transcontinental traffic by stage AZ
wagon was nearly ended.
The great difficulty the long-haul wafn
freighters had to contend with was to p
tain feed and water for the livestdl.
Supplies of that kind could not be tafn
elong, sc the route had to be laid out YIN
view to obtaining grass and war.
When the mules and oxen on siFic
route across the plains were numbled
by the tens of thusands pasturagfat
times was a matter of grave anYty.
Fuel also i'll the treeless regions vas
ccarce and difficult to obtain, wood fng
sold in points in Colorado and Wyopng
at SEQ a cord But for the supply ofbuf-
falo chips-plentiful in most sectionsthe
fuel problem would have been much hVre
serious.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
In the Field Of Art,

..To those interested in the aesthetic
development of Birmingham said a per-
son of high culture. there is something
that will come as welcome proof that
start has been made in new educa-
tional line.
''At a recent meeting of the Birming-
ham Art club 1t was decided by the men,
bers to devote certain funds to the pur-
chase of pictures, these pictures to form
the nucleus of an art collection. which
should be added to year by year. For its
first purchase the Art club turned to
local talent, thereby encouraging work.
ers near at hand as just tribute to
their merit Five paintings In oil were
selected four the work Of Miss Alice
Rumph, and one by Miss Carrie Hill.
These two promising young artists
spent last summer at Blowing Rock, n
lC.. studying with the weii-knownt land
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

expenses Of college career. They brinf
discredil on institutions of learning, freat-
ing the impression everywhere thf col
lege life is all beer and skittles and love
making and glee-clubbing and athletics
when as q matter of fact, these phases
are merely incidental. But the hard
working farmers son who goes to college
is a bird of another feather. Yoh don't
catch him wasting his time and wiring
home for money at every oppottunityl
Not he. We once knew farmers boy
who went away to college and learned to
play poker so well that he never had to
draw IN his father for penny. What
more, that farmers boy left college with
money in the bank and trimmed every
rich mans son who crossed his path to
such a queens taste that he was able to
set himself up in lucrative business and
is now prominent citizen.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27

From the Kansas City Star.
KTo ADEQUATE attempt has ever
M been made to compile statistics of
i overland travel and freight ship
ment from 1S45 to 1869. Such compila-
ton. in fact, is not possible. In the COS
/. was not uncommon for 500 heavily laden
wagons to pass Fort Kearney westward
bound. in a day. In 1866 it is said that in
a period of six weeks 6000 wagons, each
carrying from one to four tons of freight,
passed that point. One writer in a
reminiscent vein says that in one days
ride between Fort Kearney and Julesburs
he counted 1888 westbound wagons, drawn
by 1850 draft animals.
Probably the largest firm of overland
freighters vas that of Majors Russell and
Waddell of Leavenworth and Kansas
City. At one time they owned 000 wag-
ons and 900 oxen. 1t is estimated that
their rolling stock and motive power
equipment would have made a caravan
at least 40 miles in length.
Greatest of the transportation magnates
of wagon freighting days was Ben Eolli-
day: but the major part of his business
consisted in running stage coaches and
carrying the mails. His Concord coaches
cons tituted the limited trains OF that
era. No railroad magnates of later days
ever possessed the unquestioned control
OF transcontinental transportation that
Law In Holidays hands from 1851 to 1st6.
rhe first stages over Holidays Central
Overland route left St. Joseph, Mo-. and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
Regarding Notification

1.-The people of Alabama have never had
an opportunity of voting on statewide
prohibition, remarked prominent bust
ness man. "The nearest approacheto 1t
was last November when the amendment
seeking 10 write prohibition in the organic
law was defeated, and the big majority
cast against that anti-saloon measure in
dictated quite well that Alabama was
not in favor of drastic sumptuary legis-
lation. The present extreme laws were
enacted as a result of professionally
work-lp clamor on the part of so-called
reformers and moral cowardice on the
Fart of so-caled political leaders.
II myself believe that small towns and
the rural districts should be dry. and
am also in favor of prohibiting saloons
In cities until there mas been sufficient
time for thorough trial of this matter.
| will never favor a restoration of the
saloon system. even as last resort, ex-
oeot en- a reformed Dasis-strict regula-
ton and high license.
II would say, let the next legislature
agree to give prohibition, SO far as II
relates to saloons, trial of at least four
more years; but as to the absolute prohibi-
lion we have now-and what farce and
scandal it is.--the legislature should lose
no time in modifying the laws so as TO
allow hotels and restaurants to serve
beer and wine to their guests. and TO
restore lockers in all well-ordered CLUBS.
In modifying the laws provision should be
made also for a wholesale liquor business
h.. HE
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
posrANDNAs AN ACTOR

From the westminster Ot1Hete7
II. is reported that M. Rostand Will
,,,,rsa,f rson one occasion only play
the leading part in "Chantecier" He
is unite capable Of doing SO, for ne mas
,,,.ved with success in his own pieces
hafore now. When he did SO some years
ao al Marseilles. an English manager
WHO happened to be present, mistakina
MIN for the actor whose role he had
assumed. offered him an engagement
a. s950 a week. But am M. Rostand,'
he rxnlained. I'm that case replied tht
manager. II will oner you SOW
week. but even that adyantaEeou'
proposal was declined.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27

'In one of the recent numbers of the
Outlook appeared an article on Glad
stone, the man. written on the occasion
of the centenary of his birth, by James
Bryce, the British ambassador at Wash
ington and few contributions to our
magazine literature of late years have
interested me more said reading man.
LAS Mr.. Bryce was member of two OF
Gladstones cabinets and as he is dis
tinguished for his discernment, his or
derlv mind, has sense of proportion and
fairness, and his literary skill no appraise-
ment of the great statesman could be
finer or of more real value. Mr. Bryce
is a charming writer and what he says
of his subject is in a high sense IL
Illuminating. Among the paragraphs in
Mr.. Bryces article which will be of es-
rectal interest to lovers and students
of oratory and governmental science arc
these:
".Those who had watched him (Mr.
Gladstone) in parliament came to think
that his extempore speeches made in some
conflict that arose quite suddenly were
more telling and gave a higher impress
| elaborate discoures. over which he had
Wondered beforehand. His voice swelled
his eye flashed fire, he seemed to bear
Gown his antag onists by the mere weight
| of his powerful personality. These gifts
were due more to nature than to study
and long practice, for oxford tradition de-
clares that he was an admirable speaker
at the University Debating society II
1891 He never, in later days. surpassed
his Grafton in the Don Pacifico debate oil
! 1890. and when his last speech was ut
| tered in the house of commons IN 1879
| those of us who heard 1t from the lips
OF an old man wasted by age could note
no Decline either in mental power Oh
| in the skill and grace that belonged
| to his delivery.
".That which most won for him the con
fidence and respect of his fellow-country
men, and that which those who were
brought into close contact with him mos
admired. was lis earnestness of purpose
and his lofty ideal of public duty. ii;
views and actions were governed cot orl,
by a strong sense of perscrsss responsible
| ity but also by a sense OF the obligations
| which office and power carry with them
He had fine conceptions of national q
well as Individual righteousness, ant
sought to make that conception the guild
| ing star of his courses He loved justice
he loved liberty; he loved peace. NJ
statesman of our time has rendered ;
greater service to the.cause of peace thai
he did when. In conjunction with LORI
Granville. then foreign secretary, n
agreed to refer to arbitration the claim
of the United States against Great Brit
ain arising ont Of the depredatons Of tn
Alabama. The first long conversation
ever had with him was on my return +
the end Of 1870 from my first visit {
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27

SONG.
Waiting for the bloom time,
Dreaming bout the spring;
Winter time is gloom time,
Not a bird to sing;
Not a glimpse of heavens blue,
Not a single rose
Fellow finds a world of rue,
Everywhere he goes!
Waiting for the bloom time,
Dreaming bout the spring;
Winter time is gloom time,
Not a smile will bring. \
Clouds of melancholy gray
Drift across the sky
Sweet will be the breath o. May
In the by and by!
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27

From the New York Press.
The greatest social gift is having
plenty of money.
Not enough good folk die young to
keep the death rate from decreas-
ing.
All you have to do to want a thing
so you can't sleep about ii is not
to be able to get it.
Old age has as short memory about
the errors of It's youth as a long one
about Its virtues.
The worst thing about marrying a
woman Is how many of her family
yIou have to marry al the same time.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
DOING GOOD WORK
From the FLORENCE Times.

Prom the Ff0fefce
Mr. water Harper the versatil and
clever travelling staff writer for The
Age Herald, was in the city the farly
part of the week taking notes. He
is filling "a valuable space in the flight
columns of The Age-Herald and loing
excellent service in heraiding abroad
the attractions and resources o our
state