davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
HANDSOME CONGREssMEN

Affairs at Washington" Joe Mitchell
Chapple, in National Magazine for July
In studying the personnel of the Sixty
third Congress it is often remarked that
the members of the House and Senate are
an unusually handsome lot of men. and
that events will probably develop new
leaders for coming campaigns. Professor
Michael of the University of Turin has ad-
vanced the idea that the most powerful
aid to political power and leadership is
beauty in some form. 1t is especially inn
portant, he declares, in helping a politician
to rise. He points out many examples and
incidents to prove his theory In Italy
especially in cases of socialist leaders who
have been successful rather because IF
their attractive personality than because
of their beliefs. He also calls attention
to the fine forms ami features of the mem
bers of the chamber OF deputies in France
who have taken the reins of public af-
fairs.
With dogmatic scientific precision Pro-
fessor Michael enumerates FIVE qualities
which he believes necessary to a party
leader, all of which many of the young
men at Washington possess energy OF
will, which enables man to dominate
weaker characters; superiority of knowl-
edge, which cumpels respect: deep convso-
tion--a force of IDEAS often bordering on
fanaticism; self-confidence pushed to the
point of self conceit. but having the power
of being communicated to the mass of the
people, and last and most important of al,
goodness of heart and absolute disinter-
estednes.
All these requisites are aside from the
qualifications of face and form which are
not to be regarded lightly. Is this aspect
foreshadowing the entrance of women in
politics? VIII the element feminine ever
be able to eliminate the old fashioned adj
miration for Adonie on the stump or APP
polio in a moving picture campaign?
Only the women themselves can answer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
SUMMER HOTELS

From Safety Engineering.
Safety of life in resort hotel and the
character of its assurance receive little,
1t any, thought from the average recrea-
ton seeked. That which concerns most
persons is the character of attractions a
resort hotel offers.
No doubt the suggestion that the rates
for accommodations in resort hotels be
scaled in accordance with fire resistant
characteristics would be received with
protest by hotel owners. Yet it is no more
than fair that safe resort hotels should be
entitled to charge the highest rates If
guests in unsafe hotels are called upon to
risk their lives that risk should be com
pensated by reduced rates.
In five years, 19oS-1912. 327 resort hotels
burned, or more than 16 per cent of the
number listed now as resort hotels. The
aggregate loss was S15ooO,oOO, the average
loss $460O0
Last year. 1872 the total loss, 50, 500, 900.
was little above the yearly average.
That was nearly per cent of the resort
hotel investment, and the number of fires,
number of hotels.
Every five days in 1912 marked the pass
ing of resort hotel. That average has
been fairly constant for five years.
In what states have these fires occurred
most frequently? This list will show:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
Good Road DAYS

The proclamation of Governor
O'Neal appointing August Ia, Is and
Is ''good road days" is a call to the
people to show their patriotism and
earnestness to serve their country in
q manner very difficult from that in
which public service is generally rem
dered.
This proclamation is not accompan-
led with beat of durms and blare of
trumpets calling to arms; it is an ap-
peal addressed to the intelligence of
the state of Alabama. The response
to this proclamation will be a pretty
good index of the presence or absence
Of that public spirit which is the ami
mating influence of progressive peo-
pie.
The success of the enterprise will
depend largely upon the well-organ-
lied system under which the work is
laid off, and the ALLEGATION of the
forces at the places and in such num-
bers as the occasion may require. To
meet such contingencies as these the
engineers and supervisors should have
4 fairly accurate idea of the number
Of men, horses and wagons, and the
implements that will be available,
and this information is to be OBJ
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
The Teaching of Spelling

Prof c. B. Glenn, assistant super
intendent of Birmingham public
schools, in a short address Wednesday
before the conference for institute in
structors in session here for three
days, said that spelling was Common
1y admitted to be the poorest taught
of any subject in the curriculum" He
thought that bad spelling might be
traced to the "absence of public con-
science which demanded good spell
ing" He pointed to the fact that the
sign boards in shop windows and on
the streets purposely misspelled words
and that the street cars were "filled
with advertisements and signs which
have no regard to proper spelling"
No intelligent person will deny the
Importance. of correct spelling. Occa-
sionally some eccentric scholar startles
the public by speaking disparagingly
of spelling. Our forebears of culture
were often shaky on photography but
in modern times spelling has been re-
duced to something of a science and
no one can be considered educated who
does not spell correctly.
Spelling, like everything else,
changes from time to time. Within the
past 25 years there has been an effort
on the part of some authorities to
simplify our English photography. An
drew Carnegie has been one of the
promoters of this so-called reform.
He might know more than the average
person about iron and steel but no one
will regard him seriously as an au-
thority on grammar or spelling, al
though he writes fairly good English.
But with all the spelling reform agi-
tation the spelling of very few words
has been changed and in all of the
schools, public and private, correct
spelling as it is commonly known
should be one of the first things
aimed at.
No matter how much light some
people make of spelling the fact re-
mains that no applicant for entrance
into the military academy at West
Point, the naval academy at Ann
apolis, the Massachusetts School of
Technology, Cornell or any other high
class chronological institution, or in
the civil service of the United States
governmeM is accepted unless he be
proficient in spelling, punctuating
and. paragraphing." He must be able
to write letter with some style and.
above all things, the letter must be
correctly spelled.
Now that Professor Glenn has
brought the matter to public attention
it is hoped that in all the schools of
Alabama there will be no cause for
complaint in the future about the
teaching of this fundamental branch
of education.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11

tanned only from those who are will
ing to contribute money or services.
An enrolment of volunteers could be
secured by appointing a centrain day
or days for that purpose and the pub
lication of these lists in the local pa
pers.
There is none too much time be-
tween now and the appointed days to
make all preparations and to arouse
the enthusiasm of the people. What
is principally wanted is enthusiasm,
and this is the spirit that needs wax
ing up. The work that could be done
by 100000 men in three days would
practically put the state of Alabama
20 years ahead of present conditions
and add many millions of dollars to
the value of the farm lands of the
state. "Good road days" were well
observed last year. 1t would be a
great misfortune to let this oppor-
tunity pass next month since its sue
cess will be attended with such bene-
ficial results,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
WHY NOT READ IN BEDr

affairs at Washington" Joe Mitchell
Chapple. in National Magazine for july
One notable phase of the current news is
the destruction of old theories, and an
nouncements of something new. Now
comes into the arena a physician who
proves that reading in bed is not injuri-
Gus. lie has practieed 1t for 30 years, he
says, and claims that it is all in knowing
how TO hold the book and shade the light.
Careful directions are given on how to
arrange the bed or couch so that the light
falls full upon your page. Then you must
hold the book al tight angle with line
drawn from your eyes to the printed page.
Reading in this way gives the body a
rest and the brain full play to absorb
what is read, even better than whe sit
ting up, so the luxurious reader can go to
bed and turn on The switch or keep the
gas burning without loss of health and
vigor SO much for reading in bed-now
for the destruction ef an astronomical the
ory. The moon, We are told by a noted
scientist, is not round, but oval-no refer
ence to green cheese. The information
comes from Portugal, and "cinemato-
graphic" pictures of an eclipse are offered
in evidence. Now when lovers lingcr
under the witchery of the mon or a mod
ern Norval speaks of the moon, round
as my fathers shield" these impressions
are delegated to the limbo of obsolete fig
ures of speech or poetic license, for have
we not the negative of a photograph TO
prove the affirmative? Our traditions and
beliefs in regard TO the very elements are
dissipated by these new discoveries. Min
eral water Is not better than hydrant
water, declares one new scientific DOCTOR,
and some famous mineral waters are no
better than sea Water. Possibly a sea
drink at the soda fountains will soon be
in favor, and some enterprising firm will
begin to bottle the Atlantic for commercial
purposes.
So the world wags or and as old
theories are exploded. new ones are
brought out 10 help along the current of
news.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
LOVES RATIO.

An evangelist says that Is kisses day
will prevent domestic trouble. For the
man who comes home to lunch they might
be divided thus: Five in the morning be-
fore leaving home, five on returning for
lunch and five when he comes home to
dinner 1t is presumed that he win spend
tho evening with his wife, either around
the domestic radiator or at some place
of amusement, the temperature of the
radiator having but little to do with the
In winter as in summer. The five morning
kisses would of necessity be the rapid-fire
sort, due to the hurried departure Of
hubby for town. The other kisses could be
regulated according to circumstances. the
man who lunches down town having to
"bunch" his more than the man who goes
home for lunch. We believe that 15 kisses
a day will preserve domestic harmony
when bestowed on ones wife, and not
ones stenographer-but a great many
people manage to stay married on two or
three kisses day after the honeymoon is
over PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
LIKE THE CAVE MAN

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
A professor in the University of Illinois
favors ''toeng in 1t is true that the
primitive man toed in. The cave man
toed in so badly that he had to step over
one foot with the other in order to make
progress. The human infant sleeps with
the top of one foot In the hollow of the
other. The Egyptians of Ptolemy days
toed in. Cleopatra toed in so thoroughly
that she had to wear papyrus pads on her
sandals to reduce the friction of her in
terfering toes
Yet we can't help preferring the arti-
fetal outward swing of the human foot. A
man who toes is not calculated to arouse
admiration by his gait.
And a woman Is still less calculated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
LUKE M,LuKE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
A girl can fall in love ct first sight. but
she usually takes second look after mar
riage and fails out again.
Two can't live rs chcaply as one. But
they can have a battle every day trying to.
A woman can't see why she should pay
cash for things when she can orag that
she has credit at the grocery store.
1t is good thing clothes were invented,
because If L wasn't for the difference in
fronts one man would be as good as am
other.
Keep your mouth closed. The moment
you open it too wide the Damphool Mi
crobe pops in and makes you want o
bray like jackass.
There are 7.69s, ,325. 56l kinds of Trouble,
and the married man who lets girl sprir-
kle few drops of her favorite perfume
on his coat lapel is going to meet every
blamed one of them.
boy wouldn't wear his brothers un-
dershirt. But when there are two girls
in the family they are always swapping
corset covers.
When they wore the invisible skirts last
summer they used to drop an awning as
far down as the knees. This year thev
are trying 20 get along without any avn
ings
If girl has swell avalliere she Is go
ing to wear low cut dress, no matter
how many bones she exposes.
When woman announces that she has
nothing more to say. that means that she
VIII be through sabbing in about three
hours.
You can always gain mans friendshi,
by telling him that he is working too
hard. They may mean the same thing,
but when man Eires a stenographer he
makes big distinction between rapid
and fast
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
LOVES LABOR LOST

From the Pitsburg Chronicle Telegraph.
Flushed and berathless, young Binks at
last succeeded in picking up the hat, blown
by the wind, which he had been cha asing
vigorously along the street, and with a
sigh of relief leaned up against lamp
post and, painting pitifully, tried to recover
some of his exhausted energies.
Just then another man. also breathless,
came running up. and, taking the hat
from Binks' hand, marked:
.I am very much obliged to you. sir''
For what?'
..Well this is my hat!' said the stranger,
smiling.
your hati Then where's mine?"
gasped Binks.
"Oh. yours is hanging behind you at
the end of 4 strins.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
MIR. Buck visits Birmingham

C. E. Buck. formerly of Birmingham,
but for several years residence of Chat
tanooga, spent yesterday here and was
greeted by many of his old friends. While
most of Mr.. Bucks large industrial in
terests center in Chattanooga he has
valuable interests in the Birmingham dis
trict. The Chattanooga furnace which
he operates is now idle on account of
the low price of iron.
Business is somewhat quiet in chatta-
nooga'' said Mr. Buck. when 1 rehabli-
tated the Chattanooga furnace and put it
in blast iron was selling at a price that
yielded a fine profit. l am now shipping
iron sold some time ago, but | concluded
that it was better to shut down the fur
mace at present prices and wait for a re-
vival. Just when the market will take an
upward turn 1 am not prepared TO say
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
The Iron Market

The local iron market is without change.
Rogers, Brown & Co.'S, Cincinnati report
for this week says in part
THE indications of improvement in the
iron market continue, at some points,
more pronounced than others There is
less range in southern iron than has been
the case recently minimum figures hav-
ing been withdrawn and advances of
from % to SOC per ton registered.
In the south production has been de-
cidedly decreased and 1t is reported on
July that there are five more idle fur
naces than on the first of the previous
month.
1.-The holiday of the past week intro
duced some features in the way of closed
plants and curtailed production and ship
ments, for which the holiday alone is
responsible. A good line of small buying
continues to be the rule, majority OF
it done, quietly and without general So
licitation.
Northern iron Is irregular and in
quiries. while not noticeably greater, con-
tinue at about the same rate. In the
east much better inquiry is reported with
considerable business in sight for third
and fourth quarter delivery
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
The Hotel business

81 have never kept a hotel, but having
travelled a great deal in this country and
abroad L believe that first class hotels,
as a rule, pay said Edward l.. Larner
of Philadelphia.
II spent some time in Atlanta recently
and l am told that every hotel there Is
reasonably profitable notwithstanding the
fact that the bar privilege is absent. In
Richmond, where I spent several days in
the spring, the hotels are all making
money.
Birmingham has been criticised for not
having modern, fireproof hotels, but 1T
will soon be in that class and there Is
no doubt about the two steel frame hos
teries having all the business they can
well handle. In New York, Chicago and
all the great cities of this country the
hotel business is notably profitable
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
Concerning Market Prices

i was Interested in reading in the Flor
ence Herald that butter. eggs and other
farm products are selling from to 10
cents lower in that city than in Birming-
ham, said man who keeps track of
Morris avenue quotations.
"Of course, Florence is so situated as
to make for low prices. The farmers do
not have to ship their products, which,
naturally. helps 20 keep up the high prices
In this market. and keeps the Florence
market relatively low. The quotations in
the Florence Herald are Butter 15c lb. ;
eggs, 10c doz.; hens, Sc lb. fryers, 13c lb.,
and ducks, Sc lb.' The quotations on Nor
ris avenue are; Butter country, 20a2Oc;
eggs, case candled, 17diSc; hens, 14@141ac;
fryers, 2O@25c, and ducks, 14c. The people
of Florence can have chicken for break
fast every morning at much cheaper
price than the people of Birmingham can
eat any kind of meat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
1T DID
From Everybody's.

From Everybodys.
Bostonian was showing a British WIS.,
itor the sights of the Hub. They were
driving past Bunker Hill monument Not
wishing to make any pointed reference to
the fact that at one time we had been
fighting with our cousins, the Boston gem
tleman merely indicated the monument
with his thumb and said: Bunker HILL
The Englishmah looked at the hill in
tently and asked: WHO was Mr. Bunker,
and what did he do to the hill?"
You don't understand" said the Bos-
tonian. This is where Warren FELL"
The Englishman screwed his monocle
into his eye. leaned back, and looking at
the top of the towering shaft, remarked
inquirfingly:
KILLED him. of course?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
AIabama.s Grovlne cotton

The growing cotton in Alabama is in
splendid condition. said w. D. Nesbitt
yesterday.
1T Is mistake to think that 1t has
been hurt by the hot. dry weather. The
temperature we have been having is Just
what the cotton has needed. There will
be abundant showers this week. but the
plant would still be thriving. The outlook
for great crop in Alabama is bright in
Decd
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
virginia Newspapers Mislnformed

There is quite tilt on between the
Richmond Virginian and one of the Nor
folk papers over the question of popula-
ton, extension of boundary lines ETC., .
said member of Birmingham's Virginia
colony.
THE Virginian, which is one of the more
recently established papers in Richmond,
had this to say: by reaching out into
the surrounding country and gathering
unto itself all the outlying territory with
in radius of 10 or 10 miles the city of
Birmingham managed to leap into the 100,-
GOO class in population. From 10000 popu-
ation it jumped to $4,000 by annexng
every village In the county and several in
one or two Others
Every Birmingham citizen recognizes
the falsity of that statement. The great
er Birmingham measure incorporated only
suburbs that were naturally part of Bir-
mingham. In Birmingham's expansion it
not only did not go out of Jefferson coun-
ty, but it did not include several large and
prosperous towns in the county, notably
the city of Bessemer
got Birmingham mixed up with Atlanta
and Richmond. Atlanta, in order to make
a big showing in the census, went outside
OF Fulton county and Richmond went out
of Henrico county-it crossed the James
and took in Manchester. The Norfolk
Landmark says in reply to the Richmond
paper:
For all we know to the contrary, the
facts are exactly as here stated; but when
residents of glass houses begin to throw
stones they indulge in a dangerous
pastime. If Birmingham, within the last
few years, has gathered in more outlying
territory than Richmond, it is surely some
gatherer. Already the Capital City has
pushed its corporate limits on the north
out into the very heart of the Henrico will
derness; while on the south they are rap
idly approaching Petersburg. And still the
reaching out proceeds apace. At the pres
ent rate of annexation, another decade
will see within the municipal boundaries
of Richmond a larger area of cultivated
fields than is to be found in Texas
pountv'p
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
THE vCToRs.

Though the dreams that we cherish may
never come true
And the end of it all is the grave,
To cling to our dreams in spite of life's
rue
And still to be hopeful and brave,
Turns the dart from the heart that is con-
slant for aye
And gives us the strength that we need
To battle undaunted and conquer each
day
The world, with its hate and its greed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
LIMERIcks-

There was an old codger from Client.
Who lived in the woods in thent;
II don't get steam heat"
He'd cheerfuly bleat
But I don't have to pay any rhent..
Boston Advertiser.
There was an old fellow from Platte.
Who lived in a two-by-four flatte
And chortled in glee
TO his wife, ''It suits me,
Cause there isn't any room here t.
spatte.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
Active business Conditions

Business in. Birmingham is very ac-
tive at this time said John l.. Parker,
druggist, florist and scotsman.
My business has been better this sum-
fall trade is excellent. AS far as l know
the merchants of Birmingham are all
prosperng Taken altogether, general
trade hereabouts is not only as good as
1t was last summer, but better. And that
is saying a good DEAL
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
The Best Army

Brigadier General James Parker S
article explaining why, in his opinion,
the United States soldier is the best
soldier in the world and the United
States potentially the greatest nation
on earth, an outline of which was pub
lished in last Sundays Age-Herald, is
of interest not only to military men,
but to all patriotic Americans.
The regular army is recruited from
sturdy young men of good habits, good
intelligence and fair education. Re-
cruiting officers accept no illiterate
man. Some of the enlisted men in the
army are college graduates, but the
majority of them are of high school
training. A decided majority of the
regulars are American born. General
Parker says that many of the soldiers
of the regular army "enlist because
they have the military instinct, the
instinct which fills our army in time
of war with volunteers" He says that
"few join the army because they are
forced to it through poverty" A'fine
physique is demanded and anyone who
sees battalion or a company of regu-
lars cannot help applauding and feel
ipo nro1d of his co,,,otrv
The law provides that the total en-
listed strength of the army shall not
exceed 100000. The enlisted strength,
staff and line, is now about 81 ,000
From the time that the army was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
oUR NoN-sMoKING CITIES

Among the cities which are making
practical efforts to abate the smoke
nuisance are Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo,
Chicago Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver,
Detroit, Indianapolis, Jersey City,
Kansas City, Los Angeles, Louisville, Mil
waukee Minneapolis, Newark, New Or
leans, New York. Philadelphia, Pittsburg,
Portland. Providence. Rochester, San
Francisco. Seattle, St Louis, st. Paul and
Washington.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11

Among other qualifications Chicago suf-
fragettes think women police should have
had experience in society. Personally, We
cont believe a social butterfly could sub
sist on the ealary she would get on the
police force.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11

A Maine woman who thought she was in
Boston tainted when told that she was in
Kansas City, no doubt thinking herself de-
cidedly off the beaten path
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
A SMALL INSTRUMENT

81 understand Dobble is musician"
Yes, in a small way"
How is that?"
He plays the piccolo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
Number
of Fires

The most frequent causes of fires in re-
sort hotels. easily preventable, are de-
fective chimneys and heating and lighting
apparatus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11

The new poet laureate of England pre-
serves the best traditions of his office, vet
he was scarcely thought of when poets
were being suggested to fill the vacancy.