davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
ECONOMY OF METAL sLEEPERs

From the New York Telegram.
In 1877 Gas an experiment. $500 metal
sleepers were laid on the French State
railways. and, after the lapse of 25 years,
not one of them has been renewed. In
1903 there were SIS, AS metal sleepers ON
the State lines. and in 1911, on the State
and Quest tat systems together, 1265
kilometres C7s5 niles were laid with
them.
Owing to fire at thro. wood sleeper
depots-a quelque chose malheur est bon
so many metal sieepers were laid that at
the beginning of the present year there
were about 100000 on 1880 kilometres 900
miles) of way, while 5000 tons were or
dered last year.
Certainly the first cost of a metal sleeper
is greater than that of the timber one
ON an average 10 francss 10 centimes (Ss
sd against francs to I francs tsay SIS.
90. but the latter is steadily increasing
in value as suppues are becoming scarce,
and its life is only Is against 40 years.
Besides this less than half the labor is
required to lay a given length of metal
as compared with wood sleepers. Mr.
Francis Laur, former deputy for the
Seine and the loire. quoted in the Rail-
way Gazette, puts the annual cost of re-
pewal and upkeep at 1017 francs per kilo-
metre for the wood and GAG francs for
the metal sleeper. which shows a saving
OF 81 francs per kilometre.
He also suggests that impetus be given
to the use of metal sleepers by makers
supplying them at the cost OF timber and
recouping themselves for the balance out
of the saving effected.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
VIII Convene Congress

President-elect Woodrow Wilson in
announcing his intention to call con-
gress together in extraordinary ses-
sion not later than April Is has acted
wisely. The democratic party is
pledged to tariff revision and as Mr.
Wilson says, "the pledge of the party
ought to be redeemed as promptly as
possible"
Two days after the election The
Age Herald advocated an extraordi-
nary session and Leader Underwood
and most of the prominent party men
insist that the sooner the tariff is
revised the better. Manufacturers
who will be directly affected by any
change in the tariff are entitled to
know at the earliest possible time
just what these changes are to be in
order that they may adjust their bus
mess to meet new conditions.
Some business men had expressed
themselves in opposition to an extra
ordinary session on the ground that
the country needed a rest from ma
tional politics. Others felt that if
there had to be special session it
should be put off until the fall. But
nothing could be gained by delay. On
the other hand, delay would tend to
injure business.
Mr.. Wilson has made it plain that
he intends to be at one with his party
and not act arbitrarily no matter
what this or that individual demo-
crat may advise. The party as a
party has spoken, the leaders have
spoken, and the President-to-b has
made no mistake in giving notice
that congress would be convened in
April
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
New Hands at the Tariff

Oscar w. Underwood will not have
the aid in the Sixty-third Congress of
Mr. Randell, who was not renomi-
mated, nor of Mr.. James nor of Mr..
Hughes, both of whom are to go to
the Senate. But some of his old as
sociates will be on hand and out of
the great majority in the new Con-
gress he will readily be able to fill all
vacancies. So long as our represent
alive is alive and well, bills drawn on
a revenue basis and full of produnce
and common sense will be forthcom-
ing.
The place to look for obstacles and
embarrassment is in the Senate. The
Senate finance committee is now
headed by Mr.. Penrose. Mr.. Bailey is
the ranking democrat, but he will not
be a senator after March A. Senator
Simmons of North Carolina stands
next in the order of seniority. II
Senator Simmons becomes chairman
of the committee trouble VIII surely
come to the bills prepared and passed
in the House. He voted for the Payne
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
Peace in Sight in Turkey

The collapse of Turkey is complete
for what war has not done cholera
s will do. AS fighting power in Europe
Turkey no longer exists. The country
has been wiped off the European map,
It had to sue for an armistice and
peace, appealing directly to the allies
instead of the great powers.
Let us hope the great powers have
lost in part or altogether their pow
ers for mischief. These powers did
warn the Balkan allies that none of
them might expect an inch of Turkish
territory, but doubtless they are ready
to swallow that pronouncement today
The allies have proven to be great
and we'll equipped fighters, and the
powers would have to send, at great
expense, at least half million men to
restrain them. This probably will not
occur.
Austria is the evil spirit of the
moment. She wants port on the Ad-
riatic. She wants loot without fighting
for it. The other powers want moth
ing, or rather they expect nothing
The triple entente and the triple al
lance will, however, endeavor to gel
their fingers in the pie, and it is ut
terly impossible to guess what th'
final settlement Of the war will be
The Turk should be driven out of Eu.
rspe, but he will not be, and Austria
has no just voice in this war. The al
lies and Turkey should be left to de-
termine the terms of peace, but this is
too much to expect when two great
combines exist in Europe. The triple
alliance Austria and Italy
lis matched against the triple en-
tente-Russia, France and England.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16

From the New York Herald.
~ ENCLOSURES made before the Oc-
tober and November grand juries
- of Kings county and inquiries at
police headquarters reveal that the Illicit
sale of cocaine has grown SO rapidly dur
ing the last two years that it stands at
the head of the list of drugs which are
sold illegally throughout the city. The
police record for 1911 shows five arrests
and three convictions for selling the drug.
Forty-three indictments returned by the
grand jures in Brooklyn in the last. TWO
months and Is cases brought into court
by Manhattan detectives show that the
present crusade against the evil is bearing
fruit.
Two detectives who have been busy run
ming down illegal sellers of the drug for
the last seven or eight years told yester-
CAV of eccentrlclties of the victims. 1t
is strange thing" said one, that more
than two-thirds of the men who sell the
drug Illegally are numbered among its
victims. Negroes are addicted to the habit
to a great degree. In fact, 1t was In the
south that the habit of snuffing the drug
first came to light. In New York city
there are hundreds who have become VIC
tins through a mere toothache.
I'm running down those who violated the
penal code in selling the drug l have
found the cocaine victim to be a quick
witted and dangerous person. | recall
one place in particular in lower Third ave-
saloon and found four drug users. One
had silver buckles on his suspenders, and
the buckles were in box form and con-
tanned grains OF the stuff Another had
a seal ring, the top of which opened
on a hinge, and the inside was filed with
cocaine. l entered a poolroom near Chat
ham square looking for cocaine. and was
sure that the white stuff was sold on the
premises. ! searched for several hours
and finally came upon several books. A
hole cut into the center of the leaves
about an inch square was used as a de-
pository for the drug. If the hangers
on had not appeared so studous l be-
iieve | would have been completely
fooled
The police of the large cities. from
Maine to California, are fighting the evil.
In Philadelphia. Pttsburg. Baltimore.
Denver, Salt Lake City and San Fran
cisco the increased sale of cocaine has
made the police suspicious, and they are
trying TO discover the medium through
$50 ~ A-''" rAach~~ che nndarwor,d
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
From the Manchester Guardian.
"HE deep sea fishermen of the

From the Manchester Guardian.
"HE deep sea fishermen of the old
school, the men who still have
L scornful contempt for steam, pos
sess a deep dread not unmixed with
respect for all gulls. I remember being
on herring drifter hauling its net
one gray autumn morning off the east
coast In the hurry of the working
a number of the fish were bruised OF
broken and were thrown aside, bur
nothing is missed by the keen eyes OF
the gulls, and very soon they were
amongst the fish feeding. The boy
picked up skip to scare them off, but
the old mate nearly threw him down
the fish room in his anxiety to stop him.
Eye amt to, by he said fearfully;
don't do So
We were racing for harbor an hour
or two later, grilling split herrings over
the smoky cabin fire, when the old
of injuring gulls.
"Gulls amt ord'ny birds, We know" he
said slowly, for amt wee heard tell
where the souls O. the wicked sailor
men go? Ay? When they have to work
out the years of sorrow for their sim
min. They still follow the sea. but not
as hands aboard drifter or before the
mast. No, b'ys; their souls go into the
gulls till they're kinder fieased o. sin.
Allus treat gulls Kindly; We dunno.
mebbe tbs an oil watchmate, or hand
we've pulled double wi, times past
countin'."
Someone laughed scornfully, but he
smoked on impassively for a few nm
utes. Some o. we laugh" he said ut
length; ''ye're young an scornfu' like,
but I'll tell We. In the OIL days when
b'ys went t sea as apprentices an
dusn't call their souls their own, one
o. the hardest shippers was a sailin'
owner name O. Colby. A tough 'un he
was, to be sure, drunken devil, q
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs


THE valuable red iron ore in Shades
valley. which has been so much talked
about and written about recently, is
self-huxing instead of non-fiuxing, as
the types In one of the articles made it
appear" said a member of the Chamber
of Commerce.
Engineers ond mineralogists here
and In, the north say that the impor-
lance OF the recent diamond drill tests
cannot be oyerestimated. and 1 predict
that within the next few months cap
ital will be induced to develop these
independent ore properties. A mer-
chant mining company would be high
~ profitable, understand. There is a
steady demand for good red ore"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
ORIGIN OF THE CRESCENT

From the London Chronicle.
The crescent, taken by the Moham-
medans from the Christian Byza ntine
empire, had already been takt.l by
Christianity from paganism. The city
on the Bosphorus first assumed the
crescent after its preservation from the
attack of Philip of Macedon in 500 b. c.
This attack was made on moonless
winter night of wind and rain. but
was revealed to the citizens first by
the bowling of the dogs lis that why
the constantinople dog was so long
privileged?), and when they rushed to
their posts, by a meteor which lit up
the Macedonian army. Saved by this
miricle. the citizens erected statue TO
Hecate the Torchbearer, and struck
coins bearing her emblem the crescent
moon.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
President Taft Has a Dream

President Taft wants the progress
sives and standpatters of the republi-
can party to get together with an eye
to 1916. This is easier said than done.
When Elihu Root and Robert M. La
Toilette pull together in double har-
ness nothing in politics will then be
impossible. Right behind them would
come Penrose and Cummins, and
Lodge and Bristow, trotting along
placidly and contentedly.
+ Mr.. Taft proceeds to dub the follow
ers of Roosevelt as quacks. He de-
clares the platform of the progress
sives destructive and dangerous, and
he calls upon all republicans to get
ready to take advantage Of the dis
appointments the democrats will in
flict on public expectations. Like Cen
eral Grant he is building on the errors
of the democratic party. He asks the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
COCAINE FIENDS DANGEROUS


is due TO the enormous profit defNas
The average cost of the drug at eels
sale is about 50 an ounce. and /
at the rate of SIS an ounce.
Although there is no law regulate 81
sale OF cocaine at wholesale. several IS
manufacturing chemists of the cit
handle the drug declare they are ca
in selling il. e. r. Squibb &c Sor
of the largest firms of manufa, ra
chemists in the city. have a system ners
by they fulfill all the requirements q
law as 1t applies to retailers. and D.
manner feel sure that the drug -
pensed through proper channels.
Several of these firms say there h zee
failing off in the demand for cocaine a
an anaesthetic, which supports the con
tention of DR.. J. j. Walsh. dean of tn
Fordham Medical college, that the amour
of cocaine sold is ~ times as great a
the amount actually needed for medca
purposes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
After Political Plum.

Il was living in Washington in 1885
when the first democrat since the war
was indicted into office" said s. T.
Faynter of Philadelphia.
There was a rush of officeseeke rs
from all parts of the country. The
papers poked a good deal of fun at the
south, as if that was the only section
that sent officeseekers en- masse to
Washington. but Pennsylvania and New
York were just as well represented IN
the officeseeking crowd as your section.
The civil service law had been applied
only to a very limited extent and there
were thousands upon thousands of
places for the democratic workers. To-
day the majority of offices. l believe.
are under the civil service rules; still
there are enough places to be filled to
make glad the hearts OF many an en-
thusiastic party man who is hungry for
the public crib.
Il voted for Roosevelt and | think 1t
a pretty safe guess that he viii be
nominated by the progressives in 1915
and IL he is his chances of electionlw
be reasonably good"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16

THE CALL OF THE CALCIUM.
with usual apologies to R. k)
I'm here in the niftiesr glad rags that
ever were on my back,
For hubbys a good provider, and nothing
of clothes I lack;
The calcium sets me blinking-Td half
forgotten its glare
And the stage is dingy and draughty, but
it's calling me back for Taif!
Back Of the footlights again. Mabel.
Back of the footlights again.
[ know it's a life that means worry and
strife,
But I'm back of the footlights again.
I thought was longing for leisure; said
1 was sick of the stage;
But I've found I'm not domestic ana I've
felt like bird in a cage.
I missed the lights and the music; |
missed the furry and STIR
And thinking of old time triumphs, ny
I eyes began TO blur.
Back to the footlights again, Mabel,
Back to the footlights again.
I'll take a small part as I did at the start,
But I'm back of the footlights again.
know I'm fearful example, and one
of the kind that shocks,
But ! guess / was made Tor actlns anu
not for darning socks.
cor course I didn't darn EN-, but-you I'M
dcrstsnd what | mean)
I'd rather be walking LADY, than shine
as a social queen!
Back of the footlights again, Mabel,
Back of the footlights again.
The life is a sham-but I'm homesick, |
ami
To be back of the footlights again,
-Berton Bra1ey in the Green Book.
PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16

From the Newark Star.
Colonel Faulkner of Texas was walk
ing along the road one spring morning
when he met an old darby proceeding
slowly on his way to the village.
whittier he was bound to secure his
stock of tobacco for the coming week.
We'll, Uncle Primus. how are you?"
asked the colonel.
Eyes, sub; vas. sub, Marse Faulkner,
vas, sub. All Is feelin' good dis spring.
All suttingly is feelin fine. All doan
remember as ah ever felt no bettah In
nah life. but sum way ruther all seem
TO be gettin' tn de tahm of life wen
abs lookin, for de low spots in de
fence
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
A VISION OF THE FUTURE

by Ing SUI.
A vision of the future rises:
I see our country filled with happy
homes, with hresides Of contentwths
foremost land of all the earth.
see a world where thrones have
crumbled and where kings are dust.
The aristocracy of idleness has per-
ished from the earth.
| see a world without a slave. Man
at last is free. Natures forces have by
science been enslaved. Lightning and
light, wind and wave, frost and flame,
and all the secret, subtle powers OF
earth and air are the tireless toilers for
the human race.
l see a world at peace, adorned with
every form of art, with music's myriad
voices thrilled, while lips are rich with
words of love and truth-a world IN
which no exile signs, no prisoner
mourns; a world on which the gibbet's
shadow does not fall; world where
labor reaps its full reward; where
work and worth go hand in hand;
where the poor girl trying tc win bread
with the need1e-the needle, that has
been called ''the asp for the breast of
the poor"-is not driven to the desper-
ate choice of crime or death, of suicide
or shame.
/ see a world without the beggars
outstretched palm, the miser's heart
less, stony stare, the piteous wall or
want, the livid lips of lies. the cruel
eyes of scorn.
| see race without disease OF hesh
or braln-shapely and fair, the married
harmony of form and function-and, as
/ look, life lengthens, joy deepens, love
canopies the earth; and over all, in the
great dome. shines the eternal star of
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
Aldrich bill, and he is regarded as

Aldrich bill, and he is regarded as a
protectionist at heart.
1t should be remembered that the
Senate finance committee handles all
tariff bills. The tariff revision that
the people called for when they elect
ed Woodrow Wilson President would
fare badly if it is to be handled by a
committee dominated by a protection
list. Senator Simmons is not great
light by any means, and Senator Stone
of Missouri, the next in rank on that
committee, would be far more sat
isfactory chairman.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16

| w. Spencer Jones of Haensel & Jones
of New York the well known and sue
cessful managers for musical eelebri-
ties. IS at the Florence His firm il
and has been for many years agents
for Damroshs New York symphony
orchestra.
Il am Just from Texas" said Mr.
Jones last night. land am on my way
back to New York by the way of At
llanta.
Interest in musical art is much
greater now than 1t was some years
ago. and there has been particularly
marked advance in the south. I have
never known musical organizations
throughout the country so eager to Sc
cure good attractions as now. I have
been looking especially after engage
ments for Bonci, the famous operate
tenor He Is In great demand for re-
citals and we get $1,000 night for
him. He is to give several recltals in
Texas
Mr.. Damrosch will not come south
at-all next spring. lie has been con
Quoting the spring festivals at Spar
tanpurS, >. T., Tor many years. ana the
festival managers express themselves
as greatly disappointed that they cam
not have him and his orchestra again
next spring There are more high class
orchestras in the country now than
there were a few years ago, and all
of them are prospecting. Mr.. Damrosch
is so busy in the east that he simply
hasn't the time for a southern tour. I
do not know what orchestra Spartan
burg will have. / understand the fes-
tival managers there are negotiating
for the Cincinnati Symphony or
chestra.
Il learn that limb alist, the Russian
violinist, comes to Birmingham in De-
cember under the auspices of the con-
cert committee that arranges the Sun
day afternoon musicales. Music lovers
here should consider themselves most
fortunate in having an opportunity Of
hearing this great virtuoso. He has
appeared with all the symphony or
chestras, including Damroschs-twice
with Damrosch-and he has never failed
to create a furore. He ranks as one of
the greatest violinists who ever lived"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
THE MODEL PUPIL


L ioii iR-tpito.
That intelligent looking boy there,
said the pedagogue to the top hated pa.
rent he was showing over the school
premises. 'is Brown. l am proud OF
Brown. l have inculcated in him the
love of learning to such an extent that
he now prefers study to play. l expect at
this moment he is writing Timmin's Latin
prose on that sheet OF paper there. while
all the other pupils are at play. will as.
certain"
Brown he said. "let us see the re-
suit of your industry
I'D rather not, sir blushed Brown.
Mote his -modesty,' whispered the
schoomaster. Come, Brown. let me see
what you have been writing"
still the boy demurred. But the school
master insisted and forcibly appropriated
the paper. And there in neat imitation OF
feminine handwriting he read the follow
ing
''Pleas So eveusa wv v---r-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
SOULS OF WICKED SAILORS

fighter, an brute to his hands. went
T. sea WIZ him as by. an l know.
had been wi him two trips when by
merciful Providence the gear broke
away oversize one night an took him
WI t. Twas winter fish'n an he was
a bit in drink, an nar'n sign O. him
or the gear was SEN asen. Well, we
got back to harbor, an in course o
time went t Sea once more wi the
new gear bent on. 1t was funny
enough t. be aboard, wiout Colby
cursin' an carryin' on, but the queer
est of all was that the first time we
hauled after refttin' a greet gull sat
on the crosstrees an screamed at Us
the whole blessed time. Not an or
|d'ny gull, mine We, but greet bird
twice as big as kittwake, wi fiamin
red eyes an yaller beak. We laughed
second tide too, and whenever we
hauled. till at last we got feared ont.
1T gave the bot bad name. We all
left, an marin man ID ship more'n
two trips aboard it. Then at last It
was cast away up in the Iceland fishn;
a gunbo't got the hands off just in
nick o time. But the last thing they
saw as a big sea swept over it an
the mast went by the board was that
greet gull on the crosstrees screamin lit
to freeze the blood in yer body. Twas
OF Colby; he stuck to his bot till it
went to bits"
The old mates superstition Is yas
out among modern fishermen, b
this day, when the east wind is ffct
ting down the Narrows and the anas
points of the warning lights that uafs
the snarling banks of the Coco vine
are yelled in driving mists Of sleet. ths
Channel fisherman hauls in his brpkaa
or tangled gear and mods grimH 81
the rock of eurlew or herring snssr
that drive down on the breast o. III
squalls. "Us might expect it Wi toaf
about What for they's sent nov hAs
to plague poor men?"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16
THE ARABEsQUE
' Robert Louis Stevenson.

BY Robert Louis stevenson.
(The Complaint of an Artist)
made fresco on the eoronal
Amid the sounding silence and the
or life's wide-swept and unfrequented
hall.
l drew the nothings that my soul en-
joyed;
The petty image of the enormous fact
/ fled; and when the sun scared over
all
And threw a brightness on the painted,
trait,
Lo. the vain lines were reading on
the wall!
In vain we think; our life about us lies
O'erscrawled with crooked writ; we
toll in vain
To hear the hymn of ancient harmonies
That auire upon the mountain or the
plain.
And from the august >siIence of the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-16

IF presdent-elect Woodrow Wilson has,
as governor of New Jersey, been able to
keep his office door open and let every
one walk in unannounced he will find
this matter of the open door very dit
ferent when he gets TO the " hite House,
sud a democrat who had spent some
years in Washington. No matter how
democratic or informal President may
wish to appear it is physical impossl-
bility for him to. perform his duties with
out the protection aonrkeener.