davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
"sEEING THINGS, AT NIGHT

From the British Medical Journal.
Everyone must at times have asked
himself why familiar objects in a dim
light tend to assum fantastic and often
times alarming appearances.
The explanation is to be found in the
special conditions of night vision. The
Photographic lens with a large dia-
phragm, the apparatus of accommoda-
ton can only focus for one plane. As
the faculty of estimating distances is in
q great measure lost in the obscurity,
we cannot focus with precision and a
blurred uncertain outline is thrown upon
the retina
Then, too, colors viewed in fading
light lose their distinguishing hue in a
fixed sequence until point is reached
at which everything becomes of one uni
form gray tint.
1t follows that the images which are
transmitted to the visual centers are pro-
foundly modified in color and outline,
and as they enter the eye through the
widely-dilated pupil \ at an altogether
unusual angle, the movement of locomo-
ton gives them a peculiar mobility.
Now, one relies on experience for the
Interpretation of sensorial impressions,
and when these show themselves sud-
denly in an unusual form they create a
feeling of insecurity which finds express
sor in mental perturbation and more
or less violent motor impulsions. In fact
the subject finds himself in the position
of horse which sees a rapidly advanc-
ing motor car for the first time and does
not know what to make of it..
Imagination aiding. these blurred, mo-
lille and uncertain images are suscepti-
BILE of the most phantasmagoric interpre-
tation and in persons who are not ac-
customed to control sensorial impress
sions by the exercise of tho intelligence,
the impressions are accepted as reali-
ties and acted upon accordingly.
Gamekeepers and others who are ac-
customed to night work make allowance
for phenomena of this class and correct
the visual deficiency oy the aid of other
senses, such as hearing, which are. not
depe Udent on light.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
Pride of Profession

A gray haired man stood in the dock
of Chicago court. He had been found
guilty of attempted burglary. He be-
gan stealing when he was II years OF
age and never learned anything else
More than half his life had been liyeo
behind prison walls. Now he was ready
to hear his punishment for his latest
crime.
The Judge annouced a sentence of 3
wear in the house of correction. u
don't object" the aged prisoner said
"But | didn't get in, judge. | guess I'm
getting too old and stiff. | am more y
home in prison than out, anyway"
He felt no contrition-just regret
that he was no longer young and ac-
tive. In the days of his youth and his
prime, he had no failures to recount
in embarrassed accents. When he went
to steal, he stole; when he tried to
enter, he entered.
Time deals alike with saint and
sinner. 1t is inevitable, memorable
But always it cannot stifle profes-
sional pride.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION

1t is only few years since many per-
sons were charging European countries
from which there was emigration 10
America with stimulating the movement
in order to rid themselves of undesirable
elements in their population. To those
who still hold that belief the heading OF
a recent cable dispatch, Austria Stops
Smuggling of Emigrants to America"
must have seemed curious. AS a matter
of fact, more than one European country
contributing largely of its bone and sinew
to American industry would have cut off
long ago the stream of emigration had it
been practicable. says the New York
Tribune.
Emigration has depopulated many of the
villages of southern Italy and is robbing
the armies of Hungary and Austria of
their material. More than a year ago
Hungary complained that the emigration
of Slovaks from the slopes of the Car
pathians had thrown the country back
upon the prospecting Magyar peasants in
the plains and that these were also leav-
ing. Now Austria is striving to stop the
exodus of Slavs from the Polish province
of Galcia on the ground that they are
evading military service. The number
who have done this within the year is
said to be 10000
The order to arrest those capable of
military service who are seeking to
leave is symptom of one of the notable
changes in the character OF the stream of
American immigration this year. The
able bodied men of Galica may have
desired to desert their homes because of
the prospect of a war against their fell
low-Slavs in the Balkans. but they were
also attracted to this country by the la
Dor conditions prevailing here.
The immigration total for the last fiscal
year has been exceeded only once the
increase over the preceding year being
more than 40 per cent. The chit increases
We're among the Savs and Italians. While
the latter did not make a new record
for themselves. never before did so many
! Poles and Russians knock at our gates.
There were more than 17i,000 of the former
| and $1,000 of the latter. The newcomers
were chiefly laborers. That there is de-
mand for them exceeding the supply is
evident from the fact that the wages
for the type of labor which they furnish
have risen within a year to $1.75 and 50
a day.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23

UPPER Mississippi and Missouri floated
down; when the eastern terminus of the
overland trail was practically st. Louis.
and when her warehouses were clogged
with bales of hides as the buffalo was
being exterminated. But st. Louis is
still the chief American fur mart. To
the men of the fur leggiugs and buckskin
shirts, to Beckwourth ana Briger and
Kit Carson, and to a host of gallant
army men across the divide, could they
come back and look upon them, these
bales of Alaska skins would bring back
vivId memorles-though the prices might
sound preposterous Almost a thousand
dollars for six little blue fox skinsl
1t seems strange that London, remote
from the beast-haunted plains mad for
ests, should be the great fur shop of the
world; but markets have way of
smuggling up to the consumer. Liverpool
sets the price of wheat Coffee, of which
the English are no great lovers, is sold
from New York. Hamburg and lie Hayre.
Overland tea is still Russian speciality,
as in the palmy days of Novgorod,
though Ceylon and other tea regions
SiOsS " liiS sed snip u WtSlSIh iSuiopS
direct Two great American staples are
handled in vast quantities closer to the
producer. The New Orleans cotton mar
lSet is not to be despised while Louis
vile, Ky, is the greatest auction mart
of manufactured tobacco.
But for recalling the romance of wild
spaces and wilderness men, the fur trade
of st. Louis has few rivals
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
TOYS AND CHILD LABOR
Florence Kelley in The survey.

Florence Kelley in The Survey
BOUGHT a toy for a nickel i'm a
corner grocery in one of the poorest
streets in New York city. 1t came
from the Thueringen forest, paid its trav-
cling expenses across the ocean, 80 per
cent tariff duty. profit to the importer
and another to the corner grocer.
What wages can have been paid to
the man who cut the wood for it's IS
parts, and to the children who glued
them together and packed the toy for
shipment?
standing in the window of the shabby
little grocery. the toy looked most at
tractive. A busy nurse on her way to
visit little girl, 8 years old, i'll with
measles, quarantined, bored and lonely,
bought a duplicate of the original, think
ing to give pleasure to her sorry little
patient. SO long as the child contented
herself with lingering the toy, the pleas
ure lasted But 1t came to a sudden end
at the first attempt to put the tub 10
the uses for which tubs are supposed to
exist. For the tub first leaked and then
fell apart when water was put in It,
1t was not made for use. 1t was ere
ated merely to be sold.
Few sorrows are more poignant than
the grief of young child at the wreck
of cherished new toy; and the kind
ness Is akin to cruelty which expresses
itself in so perishable gift to so eager
a recipient.
Two morals attach themselves to this
humble plaything. Two questions are
raised by it. Cannot We develop for the
children whose every penny spent for
toys represents a sacrifice by their par
ents, supply better worth having, less
perishable, and equally attractive? And
have we not an urgent duty to inform
ourselves of the sources of the general
toy supply?
This year, for the first time it is IL
legal to maks toys in the tenement
houses of New York. This year. for tie
first time, no so-called hygienic dolls are
in preparation in overcrowded and UNI
wholesome dwellings in contested dis
tricts. from which in former years came
quantities of shapeless cotton-batting
creatures covered with cotton cloth, to
represent Brownies.
The chief recommendation of these toys
for the youngest children was that they
We're said to be both Enbreakable and
incapable. of doing the baby harm. This
year the latter assurance will, for the
first time, be accurate as to all that part
of the supply which comes from New
York city.
One state has in this way registered
it's growing appreciation of the duty
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
Ready Acquiescence Commended

The ready acquiescence of the Amer
Jean Telephone and Telegraph company
to the terms outlined by the United
States department of justice is still
a theme of absorbing interest in
financial circles. 1t is expected that
"big business" will be affected favor
ably because evidence is given that the
administration policy to cooperate
with the trusts in the matter of re-
adjustments under the Sherman anti
trust law is at once friendly and con-
structive.
The Southern Bell is an associate of
the larger company-the American
company-which is now in the spot
light and is the subject of so much
praise The broad spirit characteriz-
ing the big concern has been reflected
in the operation of its great plant
here in Birmingham. Like other large
public service corporations that have
acted upon the publicity idea, the
Southern Bell gains steadily in popu-
laritv
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
LANGUAGE REFORMERS
From the Rochester Herald.

From the Rochester Herald.
TINE New York Sun prints a letter
from New Jersey gentleman who
= is dissatisfied with some of the Eng
fish he has discovered in the Sun. His
feelings are hurt because the sun had
as caption over a news story, "Astor
Wedding To Take Place in April" and
he writes to say that takes place" re-
fers to location, not time. He wants to
know what would Charles Dana or Hor.
ace Greeley have to to say about such
use of the English language?"f
After informing its correspondent that
take place" will be found in such writ
ers as Spenser and Shakespeare, the Sun
adds: Possibly it will not be presump-
tuous to surmise what the illustrious ed
have been amused, as ne always was, by
the efforts of the English purity league,
the enthusiasts who hold that language is
a manufacture, not a growth; the sensi-
tives whom had rather" throws into a
fit. Uncle Horace might have snorted: OF
all horned cattle, God deliver me from the
reformers of newspaper English +"
There is one fault which the language
reformer has in common with nearly all
reformers. He is always far more anx-
to reform himself. He usually has a fond
ness for certain words and phrases which
annoy other language reformers quite as
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
USES OF THE GYRosCoPE
m the Springfield Republican.

From the Springfield Republican
A colored porter was carrying a travel
ing case to a Pullman car in the New
York Central station at Rochester, when
all of a sudden 1t began to raise up out
of his hands. and to his amazement, the
tighter he held on the more he lost con-
troll over it. Others standing near by
tried to assist him in calming the unruly
travelling case. but to no avail. The
negro. after a brave struggle dropped
this most unusual piece of baggage at
the feet of the man for whom he was
carrying it, declaring that it was either
filled with snakes or bewitched.
Montravile Wood, aerial postmaster of
Chicago. who was the owner of the trav-
cling case referred to, calmly picked 1t
up and carried it on into the Pullman
without ay sign of trouble. This is but
one of many similar experiences which
Mr.. Wood has had with this travelling
case and It's contents. The explanation
of the mystery is as follows:
In< the travelling case which the porter
attempted to carry there was a gyro-
scope. Originally the gyroscope was in
vented many years ago to render palp-
able to the eye the earth's rotation In
more recent years 1t has been applied
to the navigation of the seas, the mono
rail car, and now promises to solve some
of the most important problems of aerial
navigation. The gyroscope is a spinning
body, mounted in a frame or gimbal
Mr.. Wood himself, in his work as a
scientist and his studies of aerial navi-
cation, was the discoverer of the plan to
control the professional movements OF
the gyroscope by the use of the floating
gimbal 1t is now possible to cause ths
gyroscope to change its plans of rota.
ton automatically To see a gyroscope
lie down at angle of 40 degrees, raise
itself bodily in the air, get up on it's feet
and turn around, looks almost super
natural.
With further reference to the Rochester
incident, the gyroscope in the travelling
case was "a inches in diameter, weighed
2S pounds and was running at the rate
of 5000 revolutions a minute. Mr. Wood
had been showing it to a friend in the de-
pot, when he suddenly discovered that he
had but a very short time to get out te
his train. He accordingly, was Obliged
to put it in the travelling case while In
motion As long as the porter carried II
in the position in which 1t was handed tc
him everything went well, but in getting
it through the gate he was Obliged te
make right-angle turn, to which the
gyro very seriously objected. Had the
negro understood the principle of the in.
strument it would have taken him but a
second to place il under control
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
winning Golden Opinions

THE democratic administration is win
ming golden opinions in the west where
the republican party used to be par
ticularly strong" said Caleb w. Brown
of Chicago.
Il visited several western states in
November and met many men who voted
for Roosevelt and few who voted for
Taft and all of them spoke in high terms
of President Wilson and Democratic
Leader Underwood. After the currency
bill becomes law the administration will
be even more popular. Not a few busie
ness men thought that President Wilson
was going to be a trust buster, but his
attitude toward big business as revealed
In his remarks in connection with the
Bell Telephone company's broad minded
action proves that he is the business
mems friend. l have always voted the
democratic ticket and II makes me glad
indeed to see the democrats more than
making good"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23

gency is that of Selling the property
of all those who have arrayed them
selves against his government. Such
proceeding would be high-handed in
the extreme, but from his record the
world knows Huerta is man who
would balk at few things to gain his
end.
One obstacle stands in the way Of
Huerta's suggested plan. The United
States served notice some time ago
that it regarded all the acts of the de
fscto government as illegal and sub
ject to reputation by a constitutional
ly chosen administration. Should HUI
erta confiscate the property of his
enemies, he might find himself land
poor, as men with money would hest
tate to buy things which may soon be
taken from them.
Money and plate might be available
for Huerta's purposes, but with ad-
vance notice it is improbable that such
articles of this kind will be found
lying around when Huerta's soldiers
come
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23

of ascertaining the sources of the toy
supply, and making 1t safe so far as the
children who use the toys are con-
cerned.
In regard to the children who produce
toys, New York state has this year
forbidden their employment in the tene-
ments before their foln teenth birthday.
This Is an attempt to make the toy sup
ply harmless in relation to the school
children in wage-earning families.
This year for the first time, however.
comes an appeal from Europe that we
interest ourselves in the European
sources of our Christmas gifts for chill
dren.
In the Thueringen forest there is no
effective check upon the labor of the
youngest children under the sweating sys-
TEN. Little ones of kindergarten age
can be turned to account for gluing to-
gether the innumerable parts of the
fragile playthings. There is no factory
inspection of the industry. because there
are virtually no factories.
There Is a cottage industry, most at
tractive to the eye of American travel
ers. who imagine that children work
at their pleasure in the intervals of out
door play in one of the loveliest re-
gions of Germany. In reality, however,
the situation is essentially the same as It
has been in our own tenement house in
dustries Sleep play, and school attend
ance all suffer during the rush season
when orders pour in with time limits at
tached. and all the normal life of the
family yields under the pressure of the
demand of the export trade.
Now we are the export trade.
If We insist that we want toys made by
older people getting a wage sufficient to
maintain their families, without making
drafts upon kindergarten and primary
school, we can get them whenever we
make our demand sufficiently urgent.
This years supply was long since
shipped from the toy-making commune
ties on the continent, but the American
orders for Christmas. 1914 will be given
In February. We are urgently besought
to impress between now and February
upon American importers the fact that
there is in our country new and eff
fective preference for toys made under
conditions good for the health, intelli-
gence and welfare of the juvenile work.
ers. whether they work in America or in
Europe
Unfortunately the proposed amendment
was cut out of the new tariff law which
would, II enacted, exclude the products
of the labor of children below the age of
IA years Until that amendment can be
carried the task will rest upon the shop-
ping public.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
War on tuberculosis

Many of the good citizens Of JET
ferson county who were Indifferent
to the anti-tuberculosis movement at
the start because they lacked informa-
ton are now thoroughly alive to the
Importance of the work of the Anti
tuberculosis association. Education
is a great thing-an educational cam
paign to arouse interest in any good
cause. No campaign has been more
intelligently or more earnestly con-
Quoted, perhaps, than this which has
been carried on under the auspices of
the Jefferson County Anti-Tubercu-
losis association. But much yet re-
mains to be done. The entire COM
munity should be aroused, and the
officers and directors of the associa-
ton should not longer be handicapped
by lack of funds.
Two days only are left for the sale
of the Red Cross seals in Birmingham,
the proceeds of which, after deducting
10 per cent for expenses, go into
the anti-tuberculosis fund. Ninety
per cent of the receipts from this
source will be used directly in the
war on tuberculosis. How much has
been donce since the war began, the
figures of the local health office
prove, showing 10 per cent decrease
of deaths among white people from
the disease in question. 1t is stated
on official authority that in England
and certain northern states of this
country during the past quarter of a
century the tuberculosis death rate
has fallen ignificantly, showing a
decrease in some cases of 80 per cent
and i'll some as great as 81 per cent.
The money raised here this year
by the sale of seals is needed especial
ly to press the war into the homes oil
the negroes. There, instead of de-
creasing, tuberculosis has increased
slarmingly, the local figures showing
SO per cent more negro deaths last
year than in the preceding year.
The jefferson county association is
the only instrument at work in this
important cause, and is therefore do
ing work properly chargeable to pub
lie funds. But at present there is no
other way than voluntary subscrip
tiCn, or voluntary taxation as some
put it, to meet this need; and it is
believed that public spirited people
will see to it that the great demand
is met by sufficiency of revenue.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
Large Construction work

1.-THE year now closing has been no.
table in Birmingham for the large num-
Der of handsome public buildings-tlie
Jefferson County Savings bankk 25-story
building, the Hotel Tutwiler, the Hotel
Motion, the Ridgley apartments and the
Lyric theater, being impressive exam
ples"-said a member of the Chamber
of Commerce. There will be many fine
buildings erected in 1914, and it is hoped
that the auditorium will be one of them.
THE government has bought a site for
our new postoffice, and it is probable
that ground will be broken within the
next 10 or Il months. l am told that the
government architects are very much
behind with their work. but Congress
man Underwood will, am sure. push the
matter. Congress has appropriated, all
told, 81, 100000 for the Birmingham post
office, including the cost of the site-the
from Eighteenth to Nineteenth streets,
running back northvard to the alley 100
feet The site cost $500 That leaves
$4,000 for the building. About three
years will be required in the construction,
but just as soon as work Is started
property in that part of the town will
naturally reach new high level. Con-
appropriation to pay for finishing
touches The building furnished with
cost of site added will represent, is is
believed, a total expenditure of about
s., $50 0O0"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Activity mt Fairfield

The great wire mill will be in oper-
alton early in January, and the import
arce of this new industry to Birmingham
caEnot be overestmated," said DR.. Burr
Ferguson who has been resident of
Fairfield for some time
The mill has been constructed on the
most modern lines. 1t is, indeed, as one
might naturally suppose, the last word in
wire mill construction.
Many new houses have been built in
Fairfield this year, and many more are
going up at once. That model indus
trial city Is the scene of wonderful ac-
tivity now, and the best of it Is that
the activity will continue and increase.
Next year will be a banner year for
Fairfield"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-23
BLIssFeL IGNORANCE

From London Answers
slumbers by Mr.. Jimson springing vio-
lently out of bed. Before she could say
a word his had pulled on his dressing
gown and slippers and had made for
the door.
What are you going to do. Henry?'
she asked.
I'm going to jolly well put a. stop to
that. Listen to him now"
Henry don't go--don't go," whis-
pered his wife hoarsely. But Henry was
already half way down the stairs. In
another few minutes she heard the
sounds of frightful struggle going on.
Glass crashed to the ground and chairs
were overturned. Then somebody
dragged someone else to the front door,
kicked him down the steps, and
slammed 1t to again.
Then Mr.. Unison, very much out of
breath but highly pleased with himself,
once more entered the room.
ooh. Henry, how brave you are!' muir
INJURED his wife admiringly.
why, how's that?"
ooh, Henry. it was real burglar
at lastr'
Henry turned pale.
MY word!'' he said. "And I thought
it was Mabels young mani