davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
Tc,,. Ahout certain stars

1.-THE people of the EARTH" said our
amateur astronomer of Birmingham, ARE
so much interested in getting clothing
and food here below, that they scarcely
lift their thoughts above to see the sights
so palinly handed to them. Few of the
earths inhabitants have seen Mercury,
our nearest neighbor, but one-Venus-
and few seem TO want to see it. But,
you can get to see 1t now as the people
on Mercury are celebrating their third
Christmas this early in the year and you
can see them at it IL you want to.
'As you know, Mercury is about 35,oCO.-
coo miles from the sun, is about 5000 miles
in diameter, and shines like first magni-
tude star. However, it is so close to the
sun that the glare of that great mass
of radium shuts 1t off from earthly eyes
except on rare occasions. The year in
Mercury, that is the time il takes to 90
around the sun, is something about 80
nays and you can only see it for short
time when 1t gets farthest away from
the sun, and you can only see 1t then for
very short time. because 1t soon re-
turns and is again lost in the glare.
TAT the present time IL you look in
the western sky about $50 in the after
noon, about 30 minutes after the sun
has set, you will first see Venus, just a
little higher than Jupiter, and then Jupi-
ter, apparently about five degrees to the
north, and right under them, towards
the horizon, you will see the thin edge
of the new moon. and right down below
the moon, If you are quick eyed and quick
witted, you will see Mercury, shining
like a first magnitude star and quite
red but not so red as Mars often is.
Mercury appeared so rarely that the
ancients did not ever know of its ex-
istence, and 1t may be it was the Star of
Bethlehem, which attracted the shepherds
and then disappeared. because after it
disappears you will only see it some
months later in the eastern sky just a
short while before sunrise, when at its
greatest elongation to the southwark of
the sun.
with Venus and Jupiter and Mercury
at one sight of the eye, we are surely
/ blessed with collection of planets. As
you know Mercury is closest to the sun
Venus is next, about 6s.000,00o miles. and
then comes the earth about 92000,000
miles. Mars is just beyond the
81, 100000 miles. Mars is just beyond the
get out and see Mercury, for it is worth
the money
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
Tariff Revision Next Year

Thus reads the democratic platform
adopted last June in Baltimore: 1--WE
favor the immediate revision of the
existing high and, in may cases, pro-
hibitive tariff duties, insisting that
material reductions be speedily made
upon the necessaries of life." To the
average voter this did not mean a re-
vision begun in December or even in
October, 1913, and debated we'll into
1914. The words Immediate" and
speedy" may mean that amount of
delay in Wall street, but among the
rank and file they carried no such
meaning and do not now, and never
will. The manufacturer and the gen
eral business man does not want a
period of uncertainty covering we'll
nigh two years.
Let no one doubt the courage of the
man who faced at the outset of his
political career Boss Jim Smith until
he drove him out of politics; who
faced Tammany unflinchingly until he
secured the defeat of Governor Dix,
and who sternly met various trouble
some incidents in the crisis of a pre-
nomination campaign. Such a man
simply has the courage of his convic-
tons. He has in fact the courage of
Andrew Jackson in an emergency.
His brief political career bears wit
ness to this statement. Let no one
doubt what he will do when the sub
ject of revision and an extra session
come before him to be acted on.
He knows and the country knows
that revision of the tariff conducted
by Oscar Underwood will be a sane
revision, endangering no honest prof
its and no honest business, and the
quicker it is made the stronger will
the party be and the more secure will
all just and laudable business become
Let no one doubt the outcome. 1t will
be what the party and all consumers
and progressive country have q
right to expect at the.hands of DEM
ocratic President who is not tied to
either privilege or monopoly
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
RirmInghnm Attract.

Newcomers are in Brmin CHAM
from all parts Of the country said
). e. Shelby of the Shelby Burton Gable
Piano company.
"As l am engaged in the piano bus
mess l naturally come in contact with
music teachers and other musical peo-
pie. High class teachers in other cities
hive an idea that Birmingham is a
doubt but that many of them would
succeed here,
Il met siegfried Philip of New York
in. Selma recently. lie had been en-
gagged to sing in that city. but he
told me he was thinking of coming to
Birmingham to live lie has fine rep
utation. 1 think all good artists viii
receive hearty welcome here
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
From the London Times.

From the London Times.
~ UR ancestors, before printing was
invented. had but one way in
- which to place their wants before
the public. 1t was to send round the
.'bellman,v or town crier," function
airy who existed in every parish in the
seventeenth century. with the invention
Of printing came an additional aid to pub
lefty Small hand bills were distributed
in the streets or pasted to the church
doors or to the posts that, in place of
curbstones, then separated the sidewalks
from that part of the streets reserved for
carts and carriages.
In 1922 the ''Corantos' of foreign news
commenced, and on February l, 1885,
appeared the first advertisement in an
English periodical, that of a book.
But the advantage of publicity thus
given to the book was not realized. and
no ether advertisement can be found until
the wear 1647. when another book was
advertised.
In that year Henry walker advertised
a book for friend in Perfect Occur
rcnces" He and others were quick to
note the resulting increase in the sale of
the work, and thus. gradually, advertise
rnents crept into all the periodicals of the
days.
In September, 1860. new state OF things
was created by the suppression by Crom-
well of the whole licensed press. Marcia
mont Nedham. the official Journalist, at
once raised the fee for an advertisement
in his bi-weel:ly. Nedham and his friends
obtained PERMISSION TO publish special
periodical containing only "advices." as
they termed advertisements.
TIE fees for one advise" were heavy,
and were not calculated according to the
length of the entry or the space occupied
by It in the periodical. Persons were
charged according TO their station in life.
From tie commencement of the year
1860 the word advertisement took the
place of the older Technology
When the London Gazette. the first pa
per half sheet in folio,' printed in two
columns on both sides, took the place of
the older 16 page pamphlets, there was Oh
viously no room for advertisements 1t
therefore announced, in June. 1866, that
advertisements were not the business of
"a paper of intelligence (the first hint
OF the word ''newspaper'), and stated
that it would publish a paper apart for all
those that were not matters of state. Sir
Roger L'Estrangs at once checked this
project by issuing a pamphlet of adver-
tisemcnts. stating that it would appear
''fortnightly or oftener." This brought
the Gazette 10 terms; and after this adj
vertisements frequently appeared in its
limited space, in spite of the announce
ment made.
a new series of advertising periodicals
appeared after this. which have not re-
ceived the attention they deserve Cen
orally entitled The City of Mercury or.
Advertisements Concerning Trade, they
seem to have been given away gratis in
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
THE ETHICAL BRIDE

FROM tne BdllllIioit ouh.
Every season belongs more or less to
Cupid, but as the autumn is one in which
he harvests large proportion of his ar
nual crop of bliss, 1t may be apropos to
ask you, sentimental sir, how would you
like an ethical bride. One was de-
scrihed in recent issue of the Sun,
whose "ethicaI' wedding four months ago
attracted attention even in this era of
rapidly succeeding sensations. The ethi-
cal bride took her newly made husband
to a physical culture resort, where the
lady tasted for 40 days on water and fruit
j.ice, and the weakling and caitiff groom
gave in to his stomach after only II days
of this spiritual life. Now this ethical
bride starts for England, where during
the winter while resting from her
fast, she will take a course at the London
School of Economics, a correspondence
course in ethics and philosophy, a training
at some medical school, singing lessons,
a course in dietetics and cookery, paint
two large pictures for the Royal acade-
my, attend lectures on socialism, suf-
frage, race regeneration, yegetarianism
and Christian Social Science, and write
for magazines on 1000 REFORM, uress'
marriage end morality, besides dipping
a little into society and studying the
latest feminine styles.
The irresolute and backsliding groom,
we note, is to be left behind. May he
grow strong enough for his responsible
ties in time! But would you, my dear SIR
who are ON marriage bent, like to have
an ethical bride?' As for ourselves, we
like the old style better, the Mother Eve
STYLE. even il she does sometimes fool
ishly nibble at things that modern ny
giene and philosophy condemn, and get
herself and us into trouble. The ethical
bride may be a most admirable and Won
derful product, but we leave her without
regret to the ethical bridegroom, If such
a male miracle can anywhere be found.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
In the sixtx-Third Congress

The landslide of last Tuesday can
not even now be accurately measured,
but it is known that the democratic
majority in the House will go to the
unprecedented figure of $50! There
will, too, be safe majority in the
Senate, ranging from two to six, or
even eight.
A big majority in the House may
be hard to handle. 1t was so in 1892,
when the democrats had majority of
lao. Mr.. Underwood will, however, be
majority leader, and the party is not
pestered with factionaiism or with
extremists, and it is widely believed
that our own representative will re-
peat his brilliant leadership in the
Sixty-second Congress. Both Mr..
Wilson and Mr.. Underwood stand for
sane, sound progressive legislation,
and no one need doubt that the House
Of the Sixty-third Congress will back
them up.
An efficient and harmonious Con-
gress is and always has been the
greatest need of the republic. 1t is the
one branch of the government that
is thoroughly independent. 1t can
override the veto of President and
impeach the judiciary, but it is in it
self supreme. Mr.. Underwood and
Mr.. Clark have great task before
them, and if they pull together in
support of the new administration all
will be well, and the prosperity of the
country will be greatly promoted.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES


First avenue between Nineteenth
and Twenty-first streets is in a hor-
rible condition and there is no excuse
for it," said one of Birmingham's most
prominent business men and largest
taxpayers. Both sides of the avenue
are torn up. Excavation work should
be undertaken on only one side at q
time; as 1t is there is great conges-
ton of traffic. 1 see every day dozen
or more automobiles damned up on
First avenue.
Il voted for the commission form OF
government and am still in favor of
giving the commission fair trial, but
think it Is only truth to say that
the old aldermanic board would not
have allowed First avenue to be torn
up on both sides as 1t Is today"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
HOME LIFE OF RATTLERS

any way near my direction. had just
summit when a large RATHER jumped from
a fat bowlder and challenged me To-
fight. She almost struck me before I sue
ceedod in getting away from her reach.
She was more than five feet long and
game to the tail. think it was the most
vicious snake ever met during my trav-
els in various mountain countries.
I'm looking around to see what I could
find in the nature of weapon to kill this
venomous enemy I nearly stepped on a
large bunch of baby snakes. The little
prisoners were huddled up close together
They were about five inches long. brown
ish in color, IA in all. and certainly were
true counterparts of their mother, who
was only a few yards away.
you can imagine my surprise in Look
ing down on this reptilian family I was
about to get step closer when the oil 1
snake made a peculiar noise. I had nd
idea what it meant, but l was soon in1
formed by the wise ones; they knew the
call and made dash for mother She rel
ceived them with open mouth swallowif-4
her little darlings as fast as nature
allowed her to give them transportation.
1t was comieal to see those little reptiles
hurrying down the rough ground to obey
mothers call when she gave them the sig1
nal of danger.
After storing her babies she looked
twice her former size. and. expecting trout
Bile, coiled herself for battle. At this mol
ment thought struck me that 1 could
Kill the reptile with my rife, although 4
had never heard of. anyone shooting al
snake. Drawing fine bead on the bocy
of many lives l penetrated her center
with four shells from my 4o-S2 Winches1
ter rifle"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
NEW FrMININE HORROR

From the New York Herald.
The long suffering men now learn that
women have gone to such lengths in eli
gazette holders that man is likely to nave
an eve single for their charms.
What, with the new devices, which are
anywhere from Ave to seven inches on
the horizontal. and the tobacco roll which
is stepped into them. there is beam
with fiery end which is likely to put
some persons out of sight.
These cigarette holders are among the
latest importations from London They
are made of bone carved into the SEM
blance of a Quill and ornamented on the
end with a silver knob. If women smoked
much in public or walked around with
cigarettes between their lips, as the mas
cullne smokers do. there would be no
man who could have eyes for them. Man
kind would be ralxed by projecting hat
pins or branded in passing by the fires
Of nicotine
This matter of cigarette holders Will
have to be taken up as seriously by the
board of aldermen as it did the ordinance
with regard to the sharp points which
project from the millinery top hamper.
Cigarette holders for feminine use are
becoming more extensive and expensive
every day. In one of the well-known no.
tells of this city where women are per-
mitted to smoke there appeared yester-
day a contriysnce for holding cigarettes
which lowered above the fair hand TO
which it was attached. It looked in the
distance like smouldering lorgnette.
The holder consisted of two pieces OF
silver wire, which formed the legs of
pair Of tongs, which firmly grasped the
putting cylinder. The hold was made the
more secure by ring which was run up
the required distance.
Many of the London novelties yester-
day were in the cases of Fifth avenue
firm of tobacconists, and in the windows
of other establishments could be seen
new importations. They are in different
eolors Amber is one of the latest hues
which fashion has decreed, and with
fine holder seven and half inches long
and costing about $50, in a correct tint,
no woman need feel at a disadvantage.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
OLDEST of OZARK ROOMS"

From the Scientific American.
The extension of the Cape to Cairo rail-
road is now proceeding from Bunikeia to
Ellzabethville, stretch of several nun
dred miles over plain varied only by the
enormous ant hills. which in some cases
rise to height of so feet In tearing
down one of these ant hills the greatest
care must be exercised or the ants will
attack the despoilers of their home and
make it very uncomfortable for time.
In some instances these hills have been
made use of as observatories by the sur
veyors who are conducting the work. 4
very comfortable hut was built on the top
of the hill, with steps cut in the sides
to afford an easy access to the top. When
the interior of the Aill had been cleaned
out ii was made use OF as dark room
by tho photographer of the expedition for
developing his plates and making prints.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
From the seattle Post-Intenigencer.

From the Seattle PoSt-lntelligencer
<fN URING my ten years stay in
j Montana 1 had some exper-
- fence with the rattlesnake,"
said an old hunter of Seattle. discussing
this poisonous reptile and some of its
characteristics. He continued:
I'm Montana many have been killed by
the rattlesnake. The most dangerous
period is what is known as the dog days
OF July and August. In these months the
reptiles are blind and always coiled for
action. Very few people ever recover If
bitten during either of these months, s
the rattlers are more poisonous at this
period than at any other time. The rat
tier is very savage in its blind condition
and will strike at all sounds that appear
near him.
although we are king of all animals
we hate to meet Mr.. Snake. The people
of Washington should be thankful to have
such a prosperous state, splendid climate.
and to be entirely clear of the poisonous
pests that people in many countries dread.
I have been informed by good authority
that plans are under way to start a Zig
rattlesnake farm near Seattle. the object
of tho enterprise being to furnish the
market with snake oil, which brings a
high price the world over.
"In the first week of September, 1895. I
had a queer experience with rattlesnalse
family. This is true story. I was on
q hunting expedition In the South Crow
Creek country in Montana.
THE morning was cold and chilly. l
was in a hurry TO cross the Quartzite Iii
vide, which is the home of the dreaded
reptiles. In picking my way over the
rough surface l generally followed old
same trails, especially when they led
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
Two More Errors of Importance

The Age Herald had in mind gen.
eral elections only when it discussed
the votes cast in Alabama. At these
elections the vote cast since the adop-
ton of the constitution of 1901 has
averaged just about 100000, that of
1906 falling 25 per cent below that
figure. The Montgomery Advertiser
insists that the vote cast on the pro-
hibition amendment, about 100000, is
a true test of the voters entitled to
vote, when in fact that vote was a
truer test of the elasticity of section
1876 of the constitution which enables
an election officer to receive vote
based on an affidavit. The registra-
ton lists are good enough on ordinary
occasions. The vote on the prohibition
amendment was not a test of the
voters entitled to vote. That number
ranges from $4,000 to $4,000 as
shown in six general elections held
since the. adoption of the present con-
stitution.
The number of native white males
Of voting age in this state was, two
years ago, 279,957, to which should
be added S465 of foreign or mixed
parentage, and 1851 of foreign born
white-a total of 29S,943 whites of
voting age when the census was taken
in 1910.
1t was Inaccurate in The Age-Her-
aid to say that the present constitu-
ton operates to disfranchise 100000
whites, when as matter of fact it
secures the disfranchisement of twice
that number when the growth of two
years is taken into consideration.
The trouble does not relate to the
requirement of the payment of a poll
tax as condition of voting. The re-
quirement is in Alabama unnecessa-
rily cumulative. Louisiana requires
the payment of poll taxes for two
years preceding, and Virginia for
three preceding years, and Pennsyl-
vania requires one within two years.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
cLEoPATRA,s SPLEEN,

From shakespeare's Antony
patra."
The barge she sat in, like a
throne,
Burned on the water; the poor
en- gold;
Purple the sails, and so perfun
The winds were low9 sick witt
oars were silver;
Which to the tune of flutes h
and made
The water. which they beat,
faster,
As smorous of their strokes
own person,
II beggared all description. s.
In her pavilion (cloth-of-gold I
O'er-picturing that Venus. WI
The fancy outwork nature; O
her
stood pretty dimpled boys,
Cupids.
With divers-colored fans, who
seem
To glow the delicate cheeks
: did cool,
And what they undid. did.
Her gentlewomen, like the i
So many mermaids, tended he
And made their bends adori
helm
A seeming mermaid steers (;
tackle
Swell with the touches of t.
soft hands,
That barely frame the office.
barge f.aAtz
A strange invisible perfume h /
OF the adjacent wharfs. TT
Her people out upon her; an
Enthroned l. the market pl.
alone. Af
Whistling the air: which, Z
cancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopat
And Mao gap In Nature.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
The seasons Musical Attractions

"The only choice musical attractions
for the season of 1928 thus far an
nounced are those which the concert
committee has arranged for the Sun
day afternoon series. but these are of
exceptionally high artistic value" said
a man who has long taken an active
part in promoting good music here.
II was glad indeed. to read Mr., Hol-
combe's statement that the committee
OF which he is treasurer and manager
had secured Zimbalist, the great Rus
sian viollnist and Tina Lerner, the
young Russian pianist. Zimbalist, as
everyone knows, Is one of the most ia
nous violinists in the world--one of
the greatest that ever lived. Miss
Iorner has established her reputation
as a charming pianist. She has made a
great hit in Europe and in our north
ern cities, and will, I feel sure. be re-
ceived with enthusiasm in Birming-
ham.
"The Sunday series opens November
%. with the Pasmore trio-three Sis
ters whose ensemble playing is unsur-
passed. They gave a concert here last
eeason and those who heard them said
they would never rest satisfied until
the trio came on return engagement
There will be only one vocal recital
and that will be some time in Febru-
airy with Janpolski, the distinguished
Russian baritone, as the artist
"a season ticket for the four con-
certs is only IS and each ticket admits
two persons to the parquet of the JEFF
ferson theatre, where all the musicales
will be given. Mr.. Holcombe says that
there are only few tickets left and
those DESTROYS of purchasing will miss
the opportunity IL they delay"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
A TEXAS VIOLET


The Hon. Albert Burleson of Texas
stands not on the order of his coming.
To friends at Austin he admits he has
already chosen the portfolio of secretary
of agriculture for his. He is noncom-
initial on whether President-elect Wilson
has been apprised of this desire.
As plum picker Mr.. Burleson is in a
class by himself. Not only has he grabbed
the available immediate. but he has a
foxy eye on the possible SUBSEQUENT. He
is quoted as saying that after four years
in the Wilson cabinet it is his intention
to return and serve the Lone Star state
as governor.
After that? All, well, life's period is
short. Earthly service must stop some
where. So, after that, with Tennyson;
And from his ashes may be made
The violet OF his native land.
Chicago Tribune.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
Just as important to girl as to look
pretty is for her to be told so.
A woman's idea of the choicest scandal
is for ii not to seem too true.
What comforts a woman is that every
gray hair she finds Is the first one.
The minute girl baby is born its
mother begins picking out husband
for It.
Women get SO much pleasure out of go
ing to funerals it's lucky people have to
die.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12

1t is regrettable that the Montgomery
merchants propose to let their franchise
in the Southern League slip away to
Little Rock. The line should be drawn
at the big river, and Macon invited TO
come in