davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
South Atlantic and Gulf Ports

The Southern Commercial congress now in session in Atlanta will do we'll to urge the importance of beginning at once to develop the south Atlantic and gulf ports in view of the early opening of the Panama canal. The Pacific ports are engaged in devel- oping their capacity for every con- ceivable sort of traffic. This is what our own ports should do, and if the conference in Atlanta can incite the ports of the gulf and of the south Atlantic to consider the possibilities of the opening of the canal it will not have sat in vain.
 New docks are needed, new rail roads should be built and every river that can be rendered navigable should be opened. Unless this is done the ports north of Norfolk will con- tinue to handle the trade of the country as they have done from time out of mind.
 When the canal is actually opened commerce will be rushed to the port ready to receive it, and if the South- ern Commercial Congress succeeds in inducing the people controlling our southern Atlantic and gulf ports to get ready for new tide of commerce it will prove highly beneficial to this section of the country. This district should get behind Mobile or New Or leans or both in demanding greater facilities for the trans-shipping and handling of coal. Congress did noth- ing toward making Uncle Sam the sole coal seller at the isthmus, and unless steps are speedily taken by this district Alabama coal with all it's advantages of proximity. to the gulf and of barge navigation from the mines to tidewater will be out stripped at the isthmus by it's more enterprising rivals in West Virginia and Norfolk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
THE HEAVIEST WOMAN
,m the Kansas City Star.


 A dressmaker entered the free legal aid bureau, and walking to the desk of Ed ward Fleming, the attorney in charge, Held up to his astonished gaze waist.
 How much is it worth to make waist like that?" she asked, tearfully.
 "Well--ah-well, that's little out of my line,' MT. Fleming replied. I'm sure I don't know. Why"
 You see, It's this way the dress maker explained. "I was to make this waist for $4; then Mrs B., well, she said she wanted another one, a simple one. and I said I would make them both for s5. She gave be the money to buy the goods. had to visit three stores be- fore I found what l. wanted, and I had to eat my lunch downtown, too wasted 15 minutes going to and from the stores, and then worked nearly three days mak- ing the waists.
 ''Then when I got It. nearly done she said she only wanted one waist and would pay me only s2.5O for making this one. I've, worked, oh, so hard. Don,t you think I ought to get the s4? Woh't you make her pay me that much?"
 Mir. Fleming didn't know. because he didn't know dressmaking. If the womer of Kansas City can convince him tnal Il Is fair price for such work. newell, the legal aid bureau is going to take ul the case and obtain payment for thu waistmaker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
Presidential Politics

Nothing is more uncertain than poll tics, as a general proposition, and yet the only luck I ever had in betting was on election results" said John N. Mer- edith of Chicago.
 "Everybody who takes interest in public matters is paying attention now to the presidential possibilities of 1912. year ago I thought Colonel Roose- welt would be nominated and elected next time: but his name has been elim- mated, and while he will stand chance of being nominated in 1916, President Taft has the right of way TOT 1912, so far as ths nomination goes.
 q think Harmon will head the dem ocratic ticket with Woodrow Wilson as his running mate. have travelled in the west recently and it seems to be ac- cepted out there as a sure~ thing that Harmon will be nominated; but owing to the uncertainty of politics 1t is too soon to bet with any degree of sureness. The east may insist on an eastern man as the democratic standard bearer and Wilson may be nominated for the presi- dency after all. Well, he would make a great President"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
BROKER HAS GREAT TIME

From the New York Press.
 A. ". Carmichael, wheat broker of At lanta, Ga, London, and Chicago, is in town Part of his cash is also here, and much of it will be left here.
 Carmichael is here on his, honeymoon, and both alone and in his wife's com pany he showered gold and bills in cafes, millinery, and tailor shops, and other places Despite his reserve, he has a breeziness that stimulates, and he cer- tainly cheered walters, bellhops, chauf- feurs, and startled barkeepers. He sur prsed statesmen and delighted his bride with his purchases for her. The gossip is that he plans to live in a different hotel every day, and to engage the most expensive suite in each, so that his ex- perience in his brief stay in New York may be as varied as possible.
 "It's nothing, my boy" said he, as he Tipped gold eagle to waiter in the afternoon in the Holland house before taking a taxicab for another hotel T expect to have only one honeymoon in my life, and, of course, I musnt be a cheap skate. Yes, I have a little money, and I want 70 see a few things in this town, and naturally I want to make the little girl happy"
 The broker ordered s1.50 cigar and ex- hibited roll of 5000 bills. The report is that he 6iclilses to carry anything small CT than 5000 bills. and he found plenty of persons who would have relieved him gladly of ali smaller denominations. He got Into the city from Atlanta on Friday evening. He made it distinctly under stood he put Atlanta on the hotel regis
 ter because that's where he got his bride. He spends part of the time in London, but regards the world as his home. Down in Atlanta he bought 12 suits of
 clothes and handed to the happy tailor a
 sIooG bill But those clothes must not
 last him long in this city, and he felt it
 necessary to visit a Fifth avenue tailor and order q few more suits.
 The report from the southern city is
 that Carmichael bought up half the con-
 tents of a jewelry store for his bride,
 and ordered a dozen gowns for her, flip
 ping away more of the s10OO bills. "But the dresses would not do for the
 kid long," said he "She must have a
 few of the fllmy. clinging kind. Yes, she
 vent to few shops, and I guess she'll
 be logged out right before we sail for Flu
 rope on next Wednesday,"
 When asked If it was true he carried the s2o0,0O0 ir bills in a suit case, as re- ported, the troFer said:
 "Oh, not SO many as that. Whats the
 use? There are plenty of banks, and l
 hardly need that much to get along in New York 1his is a cheap town, you
 know. Nothing like Paris or St. Peters burg. There's no danger of going broke
 here. You can't really spend money here.
 TheIe's no use trying, because they just about give their cigars, dinners, and clothes away. AS for hotels, well, they almost beg you to live in them for noth- 1 ing Merely trivial, the price, you know l Carmichael has bought a taxicab for his personal use fer a few days His bride can have one, too, if she wants to | travel alone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
Our Merry War Movement

Either the health of President Diaz is unsatisfactory or else the insurg- ents in that country are numerous and active, or both, for Uncle Sam is hurrying troops and ships to the Mexican border and coast line. It is claimed that this is done to give the army and navy practice, but this claim will deceive no one in the clos ing moments of a fiscal year when funds are low. The gathering of 20,- UOU men and two fleets and all availa- than mere practice or training. In and of itself it is threatening to a sister republic, and it is very plainly well-considered movement that means interference in certain contfn- gencies.
 The chances are that fear of Ger man and British interference plays a part in these mysterious preparations for war, and very possibly strong mining and railroad and manufactur- ng interests want protection against the insurrectos. Congress is not in session and the administration can- not be catechized. If mere training work were intended it would not be necessary to conduct it on the Mex ican borde- to the dismay of friend ly republic. It could have been con- ducted at Newport much more pleas antly and much less expensively The administration is preparing to pro- tect some interests or else it is en- deavoring to keep England or Ger many from interference for that pur- pose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
The Hotel Question

"All million-dollar hotel projects in Birmingham will be held in abeyance un- til the liquor question is settled" said W J. Dangaix. who owns what is regarded as an especially desirable site at the northeast corner, of Fourth avenue and Nineteenth street
 T have become very much interested in the hotel proposition. This city cer- tainly needs a large, modern, fire-proof hotel; and I have discussed the matter with several business men who expressed themselves as being ready to assist by subscribing to the stock of a million dollar hotel company. But unless the leg islature provides some way for the lessee to conduct buffet part of his busi- ness the greatly needed hotel will not be built"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

THE CALL OF THE OPEN. Maybe, to strike for the heart of the
 forest, Muse by the shores of tumbling
 streams, Would bring back the spell of the days
 that were rarest, k Would quicken the glow of my fading
 dreams. Maybe, a glimpse of the hills when morn
 ing Brightens the world with her golden beams, Would waken a hope that has long been sleeping, And lead me again to my castle of dreams. Maybe. to roam where the wind is sigh ing And the shimmering sea in the sunlight gleams. Would teach me a song I've despaired of learning, Would fashion life from the tissue of dreams
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
FISH CLOWN

From the New York Sun.
 The queen trigger fish, thin and deep bodied, ungraceful in shape but of beau tiful coloring, is a creature odd in it's ways. There is one at the Aquarium that people stop to watch. With it's thin body upright, resting on the bot tom of the tank and leaning slightly against the rock at it's back, it may seem lifeless. In this position it may remain for considerable time, but if you watch you may see it presently Soll it's eyes.
 It may take this same position. but upside down, resting on its back, lying in that position quite motionless, and more than once when it has been seen thus visitors have told the attendants that they thought the queen trigger fisl must be dead. When the attendant comes to look the fish may be standing motionless in the water upright and seemingly supported on it's tail, or it may be in like manner standing on its head, or some times it may thrust its head into a rock cleft just big enough to receive it. It swims, to be sure, just like all other fish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
Another Chicago Cabinet Secretary

Another Chicago Cabinet Secretary
 The Ballinger incident of the Taft administration is closed by the ac- ceptance of resignation that was placed in the Presidents hands in January. The President stood firmly by his appointment throughout the raid of Messrs. Pinchot and Glavis, aided as they were by ex-Secretary Garfield and really by MT. Roosevelt.
 The truth about the matter is dis puted. Even the congressional inves- tigation committee disagreed, all the democratic members submitted re- port condemning MT. Balinger, while the standpat republicans exonerated the secretary. One insurgent, MT. Madison of Kansas, practically agreed fin a separate report with the demo- cratic members of the committee. Congress did not act on any of the reports, and no official vindication of MT. Ballinger's course in office was on this account possible. In this con- fused situation MT. Ballinger relieved the administration of blame by tend ing his resignation. This was the shortest and best road out of the muddle.
 The new secretary, Walter Lowrie Fisher of Chicago, is more of a re- former than politician. He has been an active supporter of conservation movements, and has long been asso- ciated in such matters with Clifford Pinchot. The appointment will be -Navorably regarded wherever Mr. Fisher is known. The grabbers of coal lands in Alaska will get precious little support from the new secretary if all accounts concerning him are trustworthy. He is a reform or pro- gressive republican. No standpatters need apply.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
Direct Election of Senators

Senator Borah proposes, it is said to resume hostilities in favor of popu- lar action and against machines in the matter of selecting United States senators as soon as Congress meets again. He will introduce his resolu- tion on the first day of the coming session, and it will not include a Sutherland amendment. MT. Borah is one of Idaho's senators, and he is as progressive as his colleague, Mir. Heyburn, is reactionary.
 The friends of the movement for direct election of senators are confi- dent that the constitutional proposi- lion can poll the necessary two
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
cHRysAKTHEMUMs AT.roKIo

Arthur Morrison, in the March Strand.
 The great autumn shows of chrysan- themums at DangozaSa, near Tokio, offer many wonders to their crowds of visit ors-miracles of breeding and cultivation and marvels of arrangement The road to Dangozaka is bordered with gardens, and at the time of the chrysanthemum shows--a sort of national festival, for the chrysanthemum is the Japanese national ffower-the way is lined with stalls of all sorts and made gay with many thousands suburb-of Dangozaka seems congeries
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09

city government; and no man could make first rate commissioner unless he had displayed public spirit and taken live ly interest in mpnicipal government. Among men of this class are w II. Kettig Frank Nelson, Jr., Richard. w. Massey and John-L. Raul. Others equal ly successful in money making would fail in public leadership or municipal ad- ministration simply because they lacked public spirit, and an eager interest int public affairs. But I think it safe prediction that Exum, Lane and Jones will give such satisfaction that they will be their own successors for at least one term each.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
DICKENS AND HIS SON ALFRED

From the March Strand.
 Forty-five years ago a keen, pleas ant-faced man In a green velvet waist coast might have been seen on the plat form at Waterloo station, London. At his side was a young fellow of 20, his face flushed with emotion.
 "Goodby, my boy, and God bless you," spoke the elder man. Do your duty and keep up your pluck
 The young man thought of all the good times he had had with his father-of all the wonderful talks, and games and journeys they had enjoyed together-he and the best, the kindest father in all the world-and tears sprang to his eyes, The two gripped hands again and the train steamed away; and that night England and London-and Rochester and Gads Hill-were shut out for 45 years while the young man worked and dreamed and hoped in the Australian bush. The elder man was Charles Dickens-the younger was his son. Alfred Tennyson Dickens godson of the poet laureate. From that hour the famous novelist began to labor as he had never labored before. To make provision for his family became his rul- ing passion God knows" he wrote, "it is not for myself, but for those I hold dear and who will come after me-"
 Forty-five years passed. And then one morning Alfred Tennysdn Dickens, no longer young, but with white hair now, arrived in his native London.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
GOLDEN AGE OF FOLLY

From Lesliess Weekly.
 A clerk receiving $12 week in New York establishment was asked if he had participated in the boisterous revel in New York city on New Years Eve. He replied in the affirmative. He was asked how much he had spent for the supper with which he celebrated the festivities. His answer was: Flight dollars" A friend suggested that this bordered on ex- travagance. The young man answered Well, I was out for good time and I thought I would spend some money
 So, for one supper on night of revelry, a clerk spent three-quarters of whole weeks wages. The reward of the toll of week was given up for an hour or two of gustatory delight. This same young man has been heard to utter do- nunciation of tainted money" He reads with delight the attacks of the muck rakers in the railroads. He gloats over stories of busting the trusts and smashing the railroads and charges the high price of living to the tariff!
 An age of extravaganza is an age of folly. It is not an age of extrava- gance until luxury becomes so com mon that everybody has luxurious taste. This has been the history of all the ages. Nations that began with lux ury ended with licentiousness. First Rome, then ruin.
 If the ''common people" of this coun- try who complain so bitterly of high prices and the cost of living would live as their forefathers lived, if they would keep within their means, if they would be satisfied with what they can affofd to buy, to eat, to drink and to wear, they would have such a sense of content ment as their forbears possessed and which seems to be denied us in this golden age of folly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
Concerning CommissIOners

"A great many men connected with so-called reform movements have very little knowledge of, practical affairs" said an old citizen.
 Those of us who have had civic pride and have taken special interest in mu- nicipal government are inclined to think that Governor O'Neal will give us a model commission if he appoints Judge Lane and Harry Jones as Mayor Exum g associates. Citizens who talk about want ing a commission entirely disconnected with aldermanic administration are. doubtless, more theoretical than prActi- cal in their ideas of public affairs in this city I think one of the strongest things in Jones' favor is his familiarity with the administrative machinery of Birmingham, and Judge Lane having been mayor four times his especial equip ment is in evidence, to say nothing of his general capacity and high character
 Now come to think of it, the quail fications needed in the men ironing the commission that will govern city as large as Birmingham are many and pe- culiar. This is notably true because oi the very fact that our commission is to be small in numbers-only three. have heard many good business men say that honest, successful business men arc all we need to make up a first-class commissions; but that Is a mistake. A great deal more than integrity and bus mess capacity is needed. The members of the commission must not only have business sense, but they must have fint judgment and broad knowledge of men man might achieve great success ir mercantile or manufacturing business and make very poor out in running q
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
Successful Southern Artists

The Atlanta Constitutions Washing ton correspondent says in a special of recent date:
 "The designation of the artists who will paint the portraits of 19 formes speakers of the National House of rep |resentatives was agreed upon today by
 the committee on the library, which adopted the report of the sub-commit- tee, consisting of Representative Will liam M. Howard of Georgia and Ed ward l.. Hamilton of Michigan.
 Three of the awards were made to
 Georgia artists as follows General Howell Cobb of Georgia by Miss Lucy
 M. Stanton of Athens, Philip Barbour of Virginia by Miss Kate Tourney Ed wards of Marshallville, Ga., who now
 has a studio in Chicago; Langdon Cheeves of South Carolina by Hal Nor rison of Atlanta.
 "The work of Miss Edwards, exhibition in the shape of photographic repre-
 sentations, drew the highest praise from those who inspected the examples of work of the various competing artists, and were said to mark her as one or the most promising portrait painters of the country"
 Miss Edwards, who won such high
 praise. is a sister of J. L. Edwards, com mercial agent of the Southern Railway company In Birmingham Philip Bar bour, whose portrait this gifted woman is to paint, was one of Virginias lead ing statesmen. He was a member of Congress in ante-bellum days and was speaker of the House of Representatives from 1921 to 1923.
 The name of Barbour was conspicu- ous in Virginia annals from colonial times. B. Johnston Barbour was a statesman and rhetorician and James Barbour was eminent in public life dur ling reconstruction days and later The Hast of the distinguished clan to hold
 conspicuous public position was John is Barbour, United States senator, who was elected by the legislature of Vir- ginia in the sos and who died in of flee in 1892. He was the uncle of J. S
 Barbour Thompson, until recently as
 sistant to the president of the south ern railway
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09

of chrysanthemum gardens and nothing else. Two sen, which is about 1 cent, is the price of admission to any garden, and in any and all of them are displayed rows of hundreds of chrysanthemum plants obeying orders in their growth like a regiment of soldiers on their pa- rade. You will see them in long ranks, each plant facsimile of the next beside it, with exactly the same number of blooms on each. And not merely that; the top bloom will be fully opened, and so make one of a perfect level and equal line of fully opened blooms; the next will be nearly opened, and again one of similar row; the flowers of the third TOW are open to less degree; and so they decrease to the feet of the plants, where row of close green buds extends. So that the whole long rank presents con- stantly repeated scale of all the beau- ties of the opening flower, from bud to fullest bloom. And the marvel does not stop even here; for not orly the blos- soms, but the leaves are matched in humber and situation. In other places, instead of straight lines, the plants are disposed fan-fashion, or in the shape of an umbrella.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
From Answers.

From Answers.
 HHE question whether Miss Le Neve
 ought to have the jewelry and furs
 A left by Mrs. Crippen has lately been brought before the courts.
 pr. Crippen murdered his wife. Ought he to be able to say who should benefit by his crime? By his will the money would pass to Miss Le Neve.
 The property of criminals has at times supplied some hard legal problems for the diversion and profit of the gentlemen of the black robe.
 Mrs. Maybrick, having been found gull ty of poisoning her husband in 1889, the law courts were called on to decide whether it was right that She should re- ceive several thousand of pounds for which her husbands life was insured.
 The courts held that the money was payable to MT. Maybrick's estate. but that his wife was excluded by her crime from benefting.
 Should mans relatives benefit by his execution in case of his being Insured?
 That was the bone or contention in the notorious Fauntleroy's case. Fauntleroy insured himself. and later committed a crime and was hanged.
 In the result the policies were declared void-"on ground of public policy "One of the most terrible incidents ir many murder trials that I have wit messed" declared Frank Lockwood, "has been the making of the prisoners will The trial is over-save the verdict and sentence-and the man in the dock vii know his fate in a moment or two. His solicitor speaks to him. They whisper together. Then the solicitor hands him a document, and the prisoner signs it. It is his will.
 When the verdict of guilty is spoken if such be the verdict-he may no longer make a will. The signing of that docu-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-09
Real Estate Value. Upward

There is more activity in the Birming ham real estate market than there was during the winter, and the outlook is naturally very promising" said Simon Klotz, alderman and real estate agent.
 Realty values are normally firm There is so much here to make real es- tate enhance in value that anything like general prosperity will put prices up. Birmingham is growing at faster rate now than ever. and just as soon as muni- cipal politics settles down, which will be the case in the near future, business in all branches will become brisk. I am ex- recting to see great prosperity here with in the next few months"