davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
NEGRO CANAL BUILDERS

In giving his impressions of social
and civic conditions at the canal. zone
DR.. Edward T. Devine tells, in the Sur
vey. of the good work which Is being
done by negroes. He says:
"The loborers on the zone are all well
paid and we'll treated. They respond
las might be expected. The negroes
respectfully, whether because of the SUI
perior education at home on the islands
or because of the discipline, the abund-
ant food. and favorable health condi-
tions on the isthmus. have amply 1usti-
fled their selection.
"The police force consits largely OF
Jamaicans and other West Indian ne
groes who have previously served as
soldiers in the British army. AS team
sters they have shown extraordinary
capacity for Improvement and are now
generally as trustworthy as any VINO
could be found to manage the army
mules. As pitmen around the feet OF
the almost human steam shoyels they
may aspire to count their wages proF-
ly in gold, and even in the strong rooms
of the treasury and disbursing office
they are employed in places requiring
and character.
Best of all, they do not threaten the
safety of women. or furnish marked
disproportion of criminals, OF course,
much of the crime with which the local
courts deal does appear among them
for the same reason that 1t appears
among the immigrants in the cities, be-
cause they are relatively the poor the
part of the population which is paid
least, has least at stake in the COM
munity, has least of opportunity and
of outlook.
Drinking, gambling, and other vices
flourish as might unfortunately be ex-
pected. A devoted missionary who
worked on the isthmus long before the
Americans came and who has seen off
the revolutions and developments of
more than dozen years there. thinks
that the negroes have advanced in near
ly every way under the influence Of the
conditions which have prevailed, though
he thinks 1t not to their advantage that
they have learned American ways of
spending their Sundays in dissipation,
or at best in pleasure excursions in
stead OF in the more quiet and orderly
religious observances to which they
had been accustomed in their West In
dian homes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
uana.one nerIaencc sectIon


It have been visiting birmingham apou.
once a year ever since 1904. and OF
course, l have remarked the handsome
improvements made In the business ois-
trict," said s. T. strother Of BALTIMORE.
But only yesterday 1 saw something OF
the residence sections. I was enarh'eo
with the beautiful landscape effects on
Highland avenue and upon what is called,
I believe, Altamont Road-a fine nouie-
yard, near the crest of Iron mountain.
II have visited most Of the cities OF
this country and I think Birmingham
surpasses all of them in the matter OF
natural scenic beauty.
.ssince the last census was taken BIZ
mingham's growth seems to have been at
a more rapid rate than 1t was even IN
the last decade. am told that a con-
servative; estimate of It's population IS
now 175,0OO This citys population VIII
doubtless cross the 100000 mark by ls2o.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
American Soldiers

II have read several communicalonS
in The New York Sun in which our mill
tary, in the inauguration parade, was
criticised adversely" said friend OF the
National Guard. 'I read one letter, too,
which criticised the regulars as well as
the guardsmen.
'.It used to be that our militia was poor
ly disciplined. Our citizen soldiers did not
march well; did not dress well, as a rule,
and they had little sense of deeorum
outside of parade. But 1t is quite differ
ent now. In most states the National
Guard is thoroughly organized, we'll
equipped and we'll disciplined.
"A Jersey man, writing to The Sun,
apologies for what might be called the
poor appearance of the militia. He takes
a view held by many and while 1 do not
agree with him altogether what he says
is worthy no doubt of some consideration.
He concludes his letter as follows:
The flower of this nation is busy in the
main with the pursuits of peace because
there is no reason to believe that the
country is threatened from without. As we
have good coast defense and a patriotic
citizenship no nation on earth could do
any more than scratch us little. To be
sure we might lose some superfluous
possessions, but that would offer our leg
islators a greater opportunity to concen-
trate their energies upon crying needs at
home. Weapons of war have changed
very much in the last 1873 years, but the
heritage of true patriotism firmly be-
lieve is a fixed quantity. The men of
Lexington and the men who fought un-
der jackson at New Orleans We're a
crude and homely lot, no doubt; but they
administered to one of the foremost mill
tary powers of that time the worst beat
ing it had ever received. Il may be wrong,
but l firmly believe an aroused citizen
ship today could do the same thing, In
spite of our poiyglot, conglomerate popu-
lation. The American spirit in infectious,
electrifying and irresistible. You cannot
get it out of your blood If you once place
foot on these shores "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
THE CITY OF SLEEP

BY Rudyard Kipling.
Over the edge Of the purple down,
Where the single 1amplight CLEANS,
Know ye the road to the merciful town
That is hard by the Sea Of Dreams
Where the poor may lay their wrongs
away,
And tho sick may forget to weep?
But we-pity us: Oh pity us!
We wakeful; ah, pity us!
We must go back with Policeman Day
Back from the City of Sleep!
Weary they turn from the scroll and
crown,
Fetter and prayer and plow--
They go up to the Merciful Town,
For her gates are closing now.
1t is their right in the Bath of Night
Body and soul to steep.
But we-pity us! ah. pity us!
we wakeful; oh, pity us, .
We must go back with Policeman Day
Back from the City of Sleep
Over the edge OF the purple down.
Ere the tender dreams begin,
.I1ook-we may look-at the MercIfU
Town,
But we may not enter in!
Outcasts all, from her guarded wall
Back to our watch We creep
We-pity us! ah. pity US.
We pity u.s. ah, pity usl
We that go back with Policeman Day
Back from the City of Sleep,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
Frank V. Evans Did 1t

1t was Frank V. Evans, newspaper
man, once mayor of this city, who de-
tected the Lacy shortage, thereby fill
ing the state with astonishment and
disgust. Examiner Evans was sent to
Speigner's to check UP the sale Of
goods from the states cotton mill at
that place, and then and there he saw
that the state had not been credited
with $4,000 worth of cotton goods
sold in Cincinnati. This led to the
flight of Lacy and the heavy defal-
cation which he created.
How long the convict department
would have remained in rotten con-
dition if Mr.. Evans had not been sent
to Speigner's, it is not easy to say
for Theodore Lacy was very skillful
In bookkeeping. His books We're al.
ways in apparently excellent condi-
ton.
Mr.. Evans did succeed in ascertain
ing that many sales of goods al
Speigner's had not been reported. How
he did this has not been made known
but he did it, and he thus becomes the
chief sleuth in the states secret ser
vice force of examiners. Mr.. Evans, il
rendering efficient services, is receiv.
ing warm commendation and he is en-
titled to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

"At the present time,' says Alvin B.
Gales of Chicago, the American people
are spending s5oO,0OO daily on motion pic
ture shows. Every day in the United
States more than 100000 persons go to
see moving picture shows, and on an av-
erage each person usually stays an hour.
There are at least 10000 of these moving
picture show houses in the United States,
and the number increases at the rate of
States 10000 persons engaged directly or
indirectly in the moving picture business.
The business represents an investment
of s2oo.oooooo."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
LII lust 10 Merchantss

rs it Just for the city to allow travel
ing agents to take orders for cfothes IN
Birmingham without paying a HcenseE
asked professional man. II have always
made it a rule to buy my clothes from
local merchants who pay license Tor DO
ing business here and who not only help
make the town by spending their own
money here. but by building up pay
rolls.
1.-THE ladies of my family do as l do
trade at hoinabut there are many good
women who thoughtlessly patronize out
siders who come with their samples. This
Is a free country and everyone should be
allowed to trade where he or she chooses,
but it strikes me as being altogether
wrong to allow outside vendors to reap
the benefit of local trade unless they are
regularly licensed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
MFR. Perkins, visit

'.I am glad that Mr.. George w. Perkins
has accepted an invitation TO be the guest
of the Chamber of Commerce at the an
nual banquet" said one of the older
members of the chamber. II have never
met the distinguished financier and null
timillonaire, but am told that he Is a
most agreeable gentleman socially.
..When he was a member of ]. p. Nor
gan & Co. he did most of the publicity
talking. Since he has become active In
politics he is more in the limelight than
ever
''He will no doubt back Mr.. Roosevelt
in 1916 and if the colonel is elected, LII.
Perkins is almost sure to be an ambas-
sador.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
DR.. Flexner's Discovery

The discovery by DR.. Simon Flexner,
director of Rockefeller Institute of
Research, New York city, of the germ
Of infantile paralysis, is widely re-
Rarded as the most important effort
of that institution in recent years. The
germ is one of the mallest that has
been identified. DR.. FNTner also made
The discovery that oxyl zen is fatal to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

State Entomologist Worsham of -Geor-
gin says the recent cold weather did no
damage TO the peach crop. In southern
and middle Georgia the cold seems to
have been insufficient to have caused
any damage whatsoever. "The trees In
north Georgia are really backward, In
stead OF being unusually developed" said
Mr.. Worsham, ''and I don't believe that
over 20 or % per cent had bloomed. A
temperature of less than 20 degrees would
have injured these trees, but less acute
cold would hardly have damaged them.
Whether or not the trees were wet is
an important consideration. But the
wind had been high, and It is likely that
the buds had dried before the cold
came. The trees in middle and south.
Georgia are well advanced. But since
the minimum temperature registered
here was 30 degrees. It is hardly probable
that freezing weather was experienced
farther south"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

raney after he had donned the clothing
provided by the state for his electrocu-
ton. The convict asked for an oppor-
tunity to produce new evidence which,
he declared, would prove his innocence.
In statement issued In Albany the
ter had convinced him there was an ele-
ment of doubt as to his guilt, and he has
Instructed District Attorney whitman to
investigate the condemned mans story.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

office pass such an examination they
will retain their positions, otherwise
they will have to give place 10 appn-
eants who have been examined ana arc
on the eligible list. This certainly Wouid
seem only fair. President Wilson and
his cabinet will be greatly relieved of
much of the bother that their predeees-
sors have had on account OF offieeseek-
ers Men who vote the democratic ticket
are supposed to be patriotic enough 10
vote from principle. At least, that's the
way I look at It. And I am inclined
to think that congressman will be glad
no matter what they may say to their
office seeking constituents, when the pie
counter Is entirely gone"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
Spring Weather

"On March 1 | made a forecast of the
weather for the month and thus far 1t
has come out my way" said goose
bone prophet 'T predicted that We
would have several rainy days and sew
eral hard winds and we have had them.
My prediction was that st. Patricks day
would be bright, and so it was; and that
Easter Sunday would be an ideal spring
day, and so 1 still believe.
1--WE have not had much winter and
there is no danger of any Of it lingering
in the lap of spring April will be a
good month for the farmers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
CHEWING GUM FROM RUBBER
, -, oco,,tica1 Era.

From the Pharmaceutical 1ia'
Chewing gum, as generally manutac-
tured at present, has as its basic con
stituent chicle or spruce gum' or mix
lures of the two. A recent patent
utilizes certain rubber gums and resins
which can be obtained in large quanti-
ties from nearly all kinds OF RUBBER
including coautchouc, gutta percha'
balata, etc. About SO per cent of resin
can be made from Pontianak rubber
The resin or gum Is washed with water,
blown with superheated steam' ana
|boiled with soda and sugar While still
lat high temperature, fatty substances
such as coconut oil or petroleum. are
incorporated. together with wakes sucn
as vegetable wax, japan wax ETC. some
lchicle is preferably used at the same
time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

-Four young women at. the University
of Wisconsin each serve in rotation a:
week in preparing the meals for the
four The girls not only do all the cook
ing and serving, but also all the market
ing and planning of the various meals
There is much rivalry to see who can
serve the best meals at the lowest cost
A sample menu for one day shows that
at a cost of $3.50 a week a person the
girls are able to serve oranges, bacon,
poached eggs, toast and coffee for break
fast; cream of tomato soup. spaghetti
with onion sauce, hot rolls, baked apples
and chocolate for luncheon, and bouillcn,
beef pot roast. Drowned potatoes, fruit
salad, fresh cake with whipped cream
and coffee for dinner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

There is no rush to wed at Love Station
and nothing to indicate that life in that
vicinity is continuous honeymoon. let.
tbs pretty name. methinks and de-
serves better fate. Reno is a sort
Of Love Station, too. but it's where Love
changes cars.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
civil service ana Polite.

''In 1885 when President Cleveland be-
gan to carry out honestly a civil service
reform policy the rank and file and nearly
all the democratic leaders including men,
hers of Congress affected opposition to
the merit system, saying that only mug
wumps were against the distribution of
federal patronage along the old time
lines,'' said E. p. Watkins of Phila-
delphia.
II was not old enough to vote for Mr..
Cleveland the first time he ran, but I
voted for him in 1892 and his civil service
ideas appealed to me. l was never a
politician; never wanted an office, but l
had friends who were applicants and they
were clamorous for which they called
some Of the fruits OF victory Mr.. cleve-
land greatly extended the civil service
rules in his second administration and
President Roosevelt and President Taft
each, by executive order, made further
extensions.
Congress believe adopted measure
which put the entire consular service and
all the secretaries of embassies and lega-
tions on a merit basis, which practically
means life tenure regardless of partisan
affiliation. Today there are very few Of
fices left to be filled either by the Presi-
dent or by the department heads All
the fourth-class postmasters-there are
some 10000 OF them I understand-are in
the civil service class.
"Roosevelt had extended the rules ia
the New England fourth-cass postmas-
ters and to those of several other sections
perhaps, but the fourth-class postmasters
of the south were still political. President
Taft, just before the end of his term, by
the stroke of his pen. made the civil serv-
ice law apply to the south and thai
rounded up all the fourth-class in this
country.
ane new postmaster general is think
ing that the southern fourth-class post
masters should be required to stand a
civil service examination. If those il
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

William #. McCoombs has declined a
seat on the supreme bench in New York,
a cabinet portfolio and the French am
bassadorship. He cannot leave his mule
farm in Arkansas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

Henry NJ. Flagler, 81 years old, who
fell at Palm Beach and broke his hip, is
confined to his bed, but he has the best
of medical advice and he may get up
again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

-
what is posset, pa?"
IAN old-fashloned nightcap. son, hardly
ever used now"
WAS it fluffy, pa?"
mo, son, but too many of them might
have had tendency to make a persons
tongue fluffy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

DIR. Carl l.. Alsberg is to be at TIE
head of the bureau of chemistry Secre-
tary Houston is in no hurry to dismiss
any good official.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

The guilt Of Julian Hawthorne does not
revert back to Nathaniel Hawthorne. all
the eugenics to the contrary notwith-
standing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
THE PASSING OF THE BIG HAT

THE PASSING OF The BIZ HAT
Nine. Leonore Raines of Paris. in Les
lies.
The big hat with its weeping willow
and gigantic proportions has passed on.
1t tuned itself well to the tall creature
it even made the restricted height OF
the short woman commendable one
and the big hat was. nothing If not pic
turesque. But some one started the re-
port that an expert on womens modes
had declared that the big hat was age
ing and now the immense hat with Us
halo is seen no more in respectable Paris
society. The small creations for the neao
were not welcomed when they appeared
last autumn, for people found them IN
significant and unbeautiful no matter II
graceful aigrettes did wave above ana
around the absence of brim However
women soon discovered dignity and ele-
gance in the smah hats very plainness
and lack of garnish. A few clung to
the large or half large hat. Now. nav
ing become accustomed to the pretty
little shapes, all others appear heavy
and demode.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
HAWKING WITH ADwAN ARABS

pass on to the next wonder.
HAWKING WITH ADwAN ARABS
William Coffin, in Harper's Weekly.
We had passed over the rolling country
and were riding down the stony slope of
a wadi when a Bedouin deserted a covey
of francoln in the hollow. The hoods
which had been put on the BIRDS were
hastily slipped. This was no place Tor
horses. so the cavalcade halted and
watched Saoud and Muththafy advance
Some so yards from the covey the hawks
were flown. We we're so far away that
could not see the strike which Hazzah
promptly brought off and do not know
whether it was made in the air or on
the ground. The francoln had got UP,
and, seemingly little alarmed by the loss
of one of their number, moved only
short distance over the slope.
Muththafy's bird had behaved pecuz
liarly. She had not flown at the fran
coline at all, but had taken ground be-
yond them and there she covered and
would not bulge.
"Jow," called Muththafy. "Jow, jowp
Sheik Saoud recaptured his Hazzah. and
her quarry was given to Muththafy to
wave at his bird. "Jow," he called,
showing the lure. but the hawk did not
move. Muththafy muttered an impreca-
ton, walked to the hillside and picked
up his bird.
We followed the francolin There were
six or eight of them in the covey, and
account for them all. We walked up
on them. Francolin are great pedestrians
and will break the heart of man with
gun trying to get within range Just
before the francolin were ready to move
Off, the hawks were flown again. This
time both birds refused. Hazzah fut-
tered in the air and settled again on
Sheik Saoud's wrist. Muththafy's falcon,
thrown higher, overbalanced herself and
landed on shelk saoud's back. whore she
chung.
Tho Bedouins were in a quandary. or
some reason their hawks were showing
the white feather. A young fellow on
the edge of the group solved the mys-
terry.
Shoot" he cried and pointed upward.
Far above US In the blue sky great
hawk poised. motionless. Hazzah ana
her mate had seen it long before we
had. and they were taking no chances
of having the tables turned on them. 1t
was interesting to see SO wild and saw
age a thing as hawk "a hawk may be
trained, but 1t Is certainly never tame)
taking refuge with man against its nat
ural enemies.
The big hawk in the sky ended sport
for that day. The hoods were adtustad.
the two falcons placed on the r,imps OF
Saouds and Muththafy's mares, and we
turned toward the encampment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
MOTORCYCLES IN WINTER

From Leslie ,.
The winter now closing has furnished
remarkable demonstration of the ability
of the motorcycle as now built to over
come successfully the difficulties imposed
by unfavorable weather conditions Mo-
torcyclists have been riding throughout
the winter, zero weather having been
found no hindrance.
few weeks ago northern Ohio was
swept by a storm of rain, sleet and
snow, followed by a decided drop in tenn
perature. The result was that the land
scape was covered with a heavy coat of
ice. The weight of ice broke branches
from trees, tore down telephone and tel
egraph wires, and paralyzed nearly every
kind of traffic. Street car service was
almost entirely out of commission, horses
could hardly stand UP on the icy streets,
wagon traffic was impracticable, and
even walking was difficult.
: With these conditions prevalent, it was
interesting to see the motorcycles win
ming out against difficulties. The large
studded tires gripped the slippery road
surfaces well, and the perfect balance
and ease of steering made the better
kinds of these machines safe on the
treacherous roads.
Its ability to keep going regardless of
weather has brought this machine into
great favor with many business houses.
The motorcycle is being used for deliv-
cry purposes. and by collectors, messen-
gers. solicitors, contractors, telephone
linemen, and many others who need to
cover considerable ground in minimum
time. and for least, expense. 1t has dem
onstrated that motorcycle can be used
at an average running expense of 1-5
cent per mile, and more territory can be
gone over It in a day than by any other
method of transportation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

The Illinois legislature is urged to
make its last and only choice of senators
an action of joy and beauty. The people
will do the work hereafter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
THE OPEN.

THE OPEN.
When grassy plains invite to stroll
And life renews in bud and boil.
And gentle airs watt Ger the hills
And sunshine CLEANS on laughing rills:
When skies are blue and bursts of song
Thrill tired hearts inA the human throng,
Pray, who would choose indoors to
nope?
Perhaps on some outlying slope
The first shy ministers of spring
Set forth votive offering
And here and there bloom lifts up
A perfume laden flower cup,
That fain would free our soul from cares
And mock the frown the cynlc wears.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

Miss Inez Millholland is now lawyer
in New York and she seems to have
plenty Of business to attend to.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

The United States will consume in her
navy in 1914 no less than 3o,ooooOo gallons
OF OIL.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

President Wilson met with a refusal
from Richard Olney to accept a big
office, but he will go a long time before
he encounters another.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
NOT MUCH DOG.

Mrs. Lording puts on great deal OF
dog since Mr.. Lording became rich"
at fear you exaggerate. The pup she
carries about isn't much larger than my
fist"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19
About Persons

III. B. New, proprietor of the Metropoii-
tan hotel, has been. confined to. his room
by illness for several days.
L. p Routt of Chicago. is registered
at the TIillman hotel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

The increase in appropriation bills is
almost wholly due to a pension bill that
Mr.. Taft signed and to the natural In
crease in postoffice expenditures.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

The mothers who permit their daugh-
ters to go to school with. painted faces
well. what shall be said Of them?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

Mrs. Ella Flagg Young has ordered the
teachers in the public schools of Chicago
to. teach the girls in them manners.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-19

Members of the cabinet seem to pre-
fer New York for the weekend rest