davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
Better Farming in Alabama

The legislature has created state board of agriculture headed by the com missioner of agriculture, and placed $25,- GOO at it's disposal for farm demonstration purposes. This board was organized yes- terday, and it will no doubt get at work at once, for the season of ploughing is at hand The sum named when used in connection with the farm demonstration work of the national department of ag- riculture should wake up every county in the state to the possibilities of Ala bama soil, sunshine and moisture.
 Good news, too, comes from the farm CTS who propose to enter the corn con- tests thiS year. The number of contest ants last year was small in Alabama, all though large in Mississippi and other farmers boys in this state are responding freely and there will be many contestants this year for both the state and the county prizes for the best yields on single acres. The county prizes should be in creased locally either by the county com mssioners or by commercial bodies or by subscription lists made up at each trading center.
 Again every farmer is asked to write to Commissioner of~A griculture Ruben F. Kob for copy of Bulletin No. 3s, set ting forth the work of the successful corn contestants of the year 1910. All their methods are stated in that bulletin.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16

From the Louisyille-CourIerJ Journal \ theatrical syndicate offers a man in Lexington $100 a week to enter yande- Vile because he palmed himself off as a man killer. There Is no reason to be- lieve that the individual in question knows anything about acting. If he does not it matters not at all He has been advertised and that, in curb vernac- ular, is the answer
 The degradation of the stage to the level of place for exhibiting freaks and criminals would be more lament bIe Il the professional degrader were more successful But the public has better taste than might be indicated by such an offer to such a man. The mere freak, even in vaudeville, which is patronized by theatregoers who are not exacting in their demands, does not last long. Ability must be demonstrated at the beginning or de- Veioped early Otherwise the s1eo a week contract does not last except in the case of pusilst or professional beauty.
 Some notable failures of efforts to ex- polit notorious persons have been record ed. Leet Turner, a Kentucky mountain eer with record for gun play, did not last long in melodrama. Putnam Bradlee strong and May Yohe with their elope- n1ent and the captains former social standing as capital, failed to interest au- diences. Nan Patterson would not have drawn even if she had not been warned to get off of the stage or expect the risks of second trial. sensation" was promised in the presentation of an alleged mistress of Manuel of Portugal on the American stage. The sensation" played out before the presentation. The public has forgotten the name of a young woman who enjoyed a brief period of notoriety rot as a result of the revolution in Por- tLgal, but as a result of managerial ac- tivity in New York.
 The public must at least be amused. Ii is not amused for a great while by satisfying it's curiosity as to the appear ance of man or woman who has fig ured in the headlines. but who has no ca pacity as an entertainer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
HOW SAN FRANCISCO WON FAIR

From the New York Times
 The story of how California's commit tee of lobbyists won the House of Rep resentatives into choosing San Francisco instead of New Orleans for the cele- nration of the completion of the Panama canal in 1915 was told at the CalifornIn society dinner in the Hotel St. Regis by NJ. II. de Young, proprietor of the San Francisco Chronicle MT De Young is one of the committee of five appointed last year by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to engineer the campaign in Washington to get the canal exposi- tion for San Francisco. He told he so- ciety that San Francisco will have an ex- position anyhow, even if the Senate de- oides in favor of New Orleans. Mr. Dc Young said that the fight to get .he ex- position has cost his committee $10OO0O hut that not cent was spent wrong fully. The efforts of the committee in the last stages of the fight were directed mainly against the New Orleans delega- ton, towards getting the constituents of congressman all over the country to urge their representatives by telegraph to vote for San Francisco. An avalanche Of telegrams, about 4o.0O0 in number, were received by President Taft last Monday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
The Revenue Bill

Never perhaps were the business men and property owners of Alabama so thor cushly in accord on any question as they arc in their opposition to the revenue bill DOW pending before the legislature. Ger tain provisions of the bill bear heavily upon all merchants and upon all capital employed in developing the large re- sources of the state.
 The state does not need money bad enough to raise it at the risk of not only soaring away new capital, but of driving away much that is already here The Allen resolution, which was adopted in vited capital to Alabama and pledged cap- ital ample protection. That resolution fol- lowed out the democratic state conven- tion's friendly attitude toward capital, but the revenue bill, if passed, would negative all the assurances which the new administration and the democratic party have given to the business world.
 The revenue bill in it's present form will be as certain to fail of adoption as it eserves to fail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
Democratic Reciprocity

With Ollie James in the chair the dem ocrats of the House voted solidly for Canadian reciprocity, except five. Three of these are sugar democrats from Louis iana-Broussard, Estapenal and Pujo. And the other two are Edwin Y. Webb of North Carolina, probably in the lumber trade. and Winfield S. Hammond of Min nesota, who may also have sawmill or, two, These five serving special interests bolted the party programme but 143 dem ocrats, good and true, voted for reel procity following in that respect the ex- cellent leadership of Mir Underwood and MT. Clark
 MT. Dalzell and Mir. Fordney led the fight against reciprocity, and S7 stand patters followed them to defeat These s7 constitute the old guard of the House with a sprinkling of western insurgents who are seeking the farmer vote in that section.
 The fate of the Mccall concurrent res olution in the Senate cannot be foreseen. No power on earth could put it through the Senate as at present constituted if tie special interests of the Aldrich tariff did not fear immediate revision of the rates that are fattening them at the ex- pense of home consumers. This may suffice to squeeze the bill through the Senate and nothing else will.
 Reciprocity has broken the republicans into more factions, and they will not be able to plead it before the people be- cause an almost solid democratic vote made its passage possible in the House, and this vote may be duplicated in the Senate. If the resolution putting reel procity into effect be passed in the Sen ate it will be by democratic votes. No clear republican majority can be mus tered in the House of Privilege for any thing that lowers duties and decreases the profits of manufacturers that are ex- plotting home consumers behind the tariff wall
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
A MAIDEN FAIR TO SEE.

By William Allingham. Her blue eyes they beam and they
 twinkle, !, Her lips have made smiling more fair; On cheek and on brow-theres no
 wrinkle,
 But thousands of curls in her hair. She's little-you don't wish her taller; Just half through the teens Is her age; And baby or lady to call her.
 Were something to puzzle a sage Her walk is far better than dancing; She speaks as another might sing; And all by an innocent chancing, Like lamblsins and birds in the spring. Unskilled in the airs of the city, She's perfect in natural grace; She's gentle, and truthful. and witty, And ne'er spends thought on her
 face.
 Her face, with the fine glow that's in 1t, As fresh as an apple tree bloom And O! when she comes, in minute, Like sunbeams she brightens the room As taking in mind as in feature. How many will sigh for her sake! wonder, the sweet little creature, What sort of a. wife she would mako
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
GROWTH OF THE SOUTH

From the Rochester Democrat and
 Chronicle.
 The south is coming along rapidly in population, wealth and industrial and commercial development. Figures pre- pared for the Manufacturers Records Annual Blue Book of Southern Prog ress'' bring this out in a very convinc- ing manner. Forty-one southern cities. each with population of more than 25-, GOO, have in 30 years increased their ag- gregate population from 1,506,9l5 to S,570,- TO, or nearly 137 per cent. The value of the cotton crop. with its seed. now ap- breaches LOCO, ,000,000 a year. The rail- way mileage has increased in 10 years from 20,612 miles to 71,907 the value of ex- ports from $265 0co,OC0 to s62s, ,oOOoOO. and the resources of national banks from MI ,OC0,oOo to $1.371, ,OOO,0OO These figures furnish splendid evidence of the energy, determination and enterprise of the new south. The pinching poverty and paraly- sis of business that followed the war are over, and the fact will nowhere be re- ceived with more qualification than in the north. c
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
MALADIEs OF METALS

From the Century Path.
 The alleged contagious diseases of metals is topic that has been mentioned from time to time, but shall be mem toned again because it tends to promote uniformity in our views of mineral life and other kinds of life, and to dscredit the fashion of regarding anything in na- ture as dead and inert. In a lecture be- fore the Societe de Chimie Physique at Paris, professor spoke of the fact that tin, when exposed to a temperature be- low the freezing point of mercury, shows a kind of eruption of pustules, in which the metal loses it's ordinary shining sur face, becomes gray, and on being cut breaks up into a bundle of fibres This af- lection is capable of being communicated by contact, for the application of a few grains of the powder to the surface of a block of perfectly sound tin brings about it's transformation in a few days In an- other transmittable disease of tin, the structure of the metal Is changed and be- comes crystalline This disease has a special tendency to attack joints which have been soldered but it attacks brass and lead as well. Metals do seem more | alive and organized than the earthly mln- erals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
INDIAN LEGEND OF CORN i.

INDIAN LEGEND OF CORN Nan Saunooke, Cherokee. in the Red
 Man.
 The Indians of my tribe relate this legend to their children from generation to generation
 Many years ago there lived an old worn- an with two sons. Every day she would disappear for a certain length of time; when she returned she would bring with her corn, beans and pumpkins. As her sons grew older. they wondered where she got these things They planned to force her to give them the secsrt, or sl1ill her if she refused. Discerning the little boys intention, she called them to her and gave each little earthen jug, and also bow and arrow. She then in- structed the boys as to what they should do after taking her life. She told them to drag her body over the fields and bury 1t there; then they were to take the bows and arrows and earthen jug, and shoot insects all night. They were told if they went to sleep during the night the corn would not come up until one week after planting.
 The boys shot the insects and watched the corn grow to maturity. They remem- bered the corn was tasseling, when the younger boy said he was sleepy and be- lieved he would lie down awhile; but alas, the lad fell asleep and his brother did likewise. When they awoke they could see no corn. The corn did not again ap- pear until seven days Then little green shoots came up. The boys had to keep the fields free of weeds as punish ment for falling asleep at their posts of duty. The Indians believe that no effort would have been needed on their part to get this grain had the boys fulfilled their duty and not slept
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
Looking fn 1aI2

Not in many years has the democratic party been in such fine form or so full of promise for a presidential victory as it is today said Joel F. Herndon of Phila- delphia.
 'I have been a democratic voter ever since 1876, when I cast my first presi- dential ballot for the Tilden and Hen- cricks ticket but there is more harmony in the party today than there has been, perhaps, since the war. I have travelled in the state of New York recently, and have been as far west as Colorado within the past two months, and everywhere I Lave met enthusiastic democrats eager to support a ticket in 1912 headed by Harmon, Wilson, Dix or any other good democrat-and there are a half dozen or more men of presidential caliber.
 'I voted for Bryan, although I was never a believer in free silver My type or man for President was Grover Cleve- land or Thomas A. Hendricks. I think Woodrow Wilson, from what I have read of him, would make the best standard bearer in the coming campaign. He is a ran of strong convictions. and is abso- lutely fearless, and while he is friendly to capital and is conservative when ii comes to questions of vested rights, he is progressive enough from a modern point of view to suit the most advanced class I may not live to see Pennsylvania in the electoral vote cast for a democrat, but believe that with either Harmon o, Woodrow Wilson placed at the head o1 the ticket next year the Keystone state would come mighty near going demo- era tic n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
Concerning n sub-Treasury

There is sub trea sury at New Or leans. but none between the Ohio river
 and the Crescent City" said a member of the Chamber of Comme rec. The government will before great while establish sub-treasury in Birming- ham, When the question of an addi- tional sub-treasury for the south was
 under consideration in the treasury de-
 partment at Washington and when. in fact, it was before the ways and means
 committee of the House of Represen- tatives Birmingham would have been selected but for Atlanta's dog in-the
 manager policy. Atlanta tried hard to
 secure the sub-treasury. but there were
 so many things in favor of Birming- ham that this city was about to win the prize. MT. Livingston of the At lanta district was then most infiuen- tial member of Congress- Our Oscar
 Underwood was equally as influential but as Livingston couldn't get a de- cesion in favor of his city the wires
 were worked so as to call the whole
 matter off
 Birmingham is the geographical cen ter of the south. and it Is a manufac- turing. mercantile and financial center. A sub treasury by rights should be es- abolished here and from this point the banks of Mississippi and the banks of l Georgia would be accommodated; but, | in my opinion, the government will not move in this matter, or, at any rate, Congress will not act. until after | the manufacturing plants of the Bir- mingham district are tabulated and an- nounced by the census bureau. Director
 Durand wrote to me recently in reply
 to my inquiry that the Birmingh am
 districts industrial statistics would be
 ready for ;Ibication in about two
 months. In the census of 1900 Att l lanta made very fine showing as a manufacturing city. It was apparent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
HOW TO SHOOT A REVOLVER

Edward c. Crossman, in March Outing.
 Forgetting all about what you thought was right or what you've seen somebody do or what somebody told you about pis- to- shooting, boise yourself with all your muscles at ease, right side toward some fixed point on the wall before you, right icot about twice its length from the left according to your build and the size of cur feet-and pointing a little to the left of a line drawn from you to the mark on the wall, left hand on the hip, right arm fully extended. This does not mean with the crowbar rigidity of the drown ing man grasping the straw nor yet that serseless crook often affected by the in experienced revolver shot. Merely extend the arm at full length as though point inG out some interesting object to friend. See that no muscles are strained and that you are at ease as you stand there Take a deep breath and let it go. A couple of item help to steady you down. Now take half breath and hold it. This is your shooting position and the shooting position of practically every expert revol- yer shot in the country. The South raws'' are of course, reversed so far as the arm that Is extended is concerned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
EnsIey,s Large Formulation

I was agreeably surprised to find thai Iinsley, now the Sixteenth ward of Br- mlnsham, had census population oi ,5,4SO' said an old citizen "I thought that Bessemer and Ensley were about the same in population. and my guess would have been 12,o00 for each. But Bes- semer fell little below 11.000 and Ensley counted out 5000 more than Bessemer.
 iThe census bureau seems to be tab ulating it's work for 1910 more in detail this time than ever before. Population of large cities by wards may have been counted separately in former censuses, but for the first time the Associated Press is carrying the supplemental bulle- tin setting forth Birminghams popula- ton by wards"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
No Open Saloon for Birmingham

No matter what system of regulating the liquor traffic may be approved else where let us have no open saloon in Birmingham. Dispensaries in Jefferson county would afford all the relief from the present intolerable laws that reason able people could desire, and at the same the making and maintenance of good streets and roads.
 In a dispensary plan there could be, and there should be, an exception in the matter of the sale of beer. It might be well, too, to make an exception in favor of light wines:~ Beer and wine dispensed in hotels, restaurants and clubs, and in other places under regulation would, in a general way, promote rather than hurt the cause of true temperance, but strong CT beverages should be found only in 8 4ispensary.
 Many of those who voted the dry ticket jn 1907, when an election was held in this county under the old local option law would have gladly compromised on .
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
JEFFRIEs WAS NOT DoPED
ne Washington Herald.

ETOIH the NaSllnStOn f1eTdlu.
 There is no truth in the newspaper reports which say that Jim Jeffries was 'doped' when he faced Johnson,' said c. J. Miller of Reno, Nev., at the Shoreham last night.
 ''It is true that Jeffries was in no con- dftion to fight the colored man, who sim ply played with him, but he was not doped. There had been an understanding that Johnson was to lay down, and that he was to receive S1OO,00g for it. Jeffries knew about it, and consequently did not train as he should have done About a week or so before the fight, Johnson mo- tified the Jeffries headquarters that he was going to fight; that he was not going to stick to the $10e,0e9 bargain. That was the blow that killed Jeffries, who im- agined he would come out the winner. When Johnson entered the ring he paid no attention to Jefrries, but talked to friends; but when Jeffries skipped over the ropes he leaned against them in his corner, and never took his eyes off John son, who was oblivious to the presence or his opponent. Jeffries knew then and there that he was beaten man.
 There are not as many roughs in Reno as there are in the eastern cities We have law and order everywhere, and it is wrong to imagine that everybody car ries a gun In fact, nobody carries pis- tol, with the exception possibly of the prospectors, who use a rifle mostly It will be a sad day for Reno or Nevada when the divorce law is changed. It would mean a loss of 25 per cent of our sources of revenue. The divorce candi- dates are of the best class of society and hotels in Reno'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
Not Altogether sincere

"The most radical prohibitionists z
 who are posing as standpatters on the Carmichael and Fuller laws really do not expect these laws to remain un- changed" said a democrat who has had great deal of political experience. What they are after Is a compromise. If they can succeed in gaining sin gle point in the legislative battle they will make much ado over it. The ma jority of the people of Alabama are, 1 believe, opposed to the return of the saloon but they are for local option.
 Local option is not only good demo- cratic doctrine but it Is morally sound. can imagine few things unkinder or more unjust than for people in Bir-
 mingham, for example. to say that Mo bile should not have saloons if they wanted them. It is safe to say the legislature will restore the local option system When that is done I will vote for a dispensary plan in Jefferson coun- ty and so will many a prohibitionist."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
IN DEAD EARNEST

From the Cincinnati Times Star.
 The funeral procession was moving along the village street when Uncle Abe Burse stepped out of store. He hadn't heard the news.
 'sho." said Uncle Abe Burse, who they buryin today?'
 Pore old Tite Harrison,' said the storekeeper.
 "Sho,'' said Uncle Abe Burse, 'Tite Harrison, hey? Is Tite dead?"
 You don't think we're rehearsin' with him. do you'' snapped the storekeepsr.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
REFLEcTIoNs OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press. n
 Youth can gain sense by losing youth. Marriage is lottery with chance for men, but never women, to draw prize.
 woman can think the baby is going to be a great singer because it can howl all night. a-
 People who live in glass houses throw stones in the hope that somebody else's will be smashed first.
 Women learn little something about politics in spite of the junbled explana- ticns their husbands give them of 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
ROMANCE OF A SOLEMN MAN

ing him to stop by the little fruit store and bring home some grapefruit for her breakfast. Then he realized that his was a life that was set in groove and chained by habit; the years had dis ciplined him while to her they had brought fuller love. It was inexorable and he told her. Maybe he told her about the telephone message-and the grape fruit.
 The grapefruits were bought on his way home that night and were eaten the next morning by his wife and the two chill dren. Since then he has continued, to the office, with the wife and cRdren, soggy-faced, solemn little man. pall and uninteresting at times-his romance hid den..