davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
DIR. Cunningham's Recommendations

DIR. r. M. Cunningham, city health
officer, in his report to the commits
sion on Birmingham's needs from a
sanitary point of view, makes many
important recommendations Long
familiar with conditions here in gen
eral way, DR.. Cunningham has been
making recently special study of the
situation.
His recommendations are not only
full of practical ideas, but many OF
them demand prompt attention upon
the part of the municipal government.
DIR. Cunningham wisely insists upon
the construction of sanitary sewers
for the entire city. He recommends
a hospital for contagious diseases and
recommends general vaccination in the
coming fall. More rigid building laws
are urged-laws requiring better light
and ventilation.
Since DIR. Cunningham has held the
position of health officer he has given
the public the best that is in him. He
has worked with energy and enthu-
siasm, and his popular contributions
to the columns of The Age Herald on
various diseases and how to treat
them, how they may be prevented or
minimized, have been of incalculable
benefit to this community. His COM
paign of education with view to
promoting the public health has been
indeed a notable achievement.
DR.. Cunningham's comprehensive
report submitted yesterday must have
the serious attention of the city COM
mission, and the sooner the principal
recommendations are carried out the
better for everybody.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
ROOF DANCING

From the Washington Times.
Dancing in the woods was the old man
ner in the classic times, and mythology
tells of the worship thus paid by the
pagans to the gods. The poets sang of 1t.
The priests of Mars were the principal
dancers in the sacred rites to that deity.
There was also the religious dancing al
luded to in the Old Testament, as where
David danced before the ark to express
his JOY and that of his people. and there
were the dances of the Druids round the
affairs and the mysterious stones.
Never perhaps. in the history of the
world was dancing more popular than 1t
Is today-not even in the pleasant times
when In England, ireland, and France the
people danced on the green. oliver Gold
smith, travelling on foot, paid his way by
playing for the dancers on his flute. In
the spring and summer evenings the
young lads and lassies, in innocent mirth,
footed it on the grass.
Those gentle and unsophisticated GUS
roofs is amid brilliant lights, lovely flow
ers and great palms, and to the exquisite
music of an orchestra of strings. Hot as
the air may be In the streets below, 1t is
always cool in those dreamy and echant-
ing elevations, which, rising almost to
the stars, do not seem to belong to earth
at all.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25

giant Oregon FIR tree, shaped to make
the largest fagpole in the world. has
been raised at the San Francisco EXPOSE
ton grounds On account of its unusual
size the work of getting the pole into an
upright position was difficult and at
tracted as much attention as any other
feature of construction at the exposition.
The pole is 222 feet high and there is a
gilded star at its top which is 10 feet high.
Ten feet of the base is set into block
Of reinforced concrete weighing 200 tons.
This will hold the pole erect against the
highest winds without the use of guy
ropes or other supports. The fiagpole
weighs 80 tons, the log from which 1t
was made having a weight of so tons.
Three derricks were used in raising the
pole. 1t was given to the exposition by
the citizens of Astoria, Ore, and was
1oated down the coast to the exposition
grounds about one year ago. 1t will bear
a huge American flag 46 feet long, which
was also the gift of the citizens of AS
toria.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25

Oh the murder and called some witnesses
to bear out the fact that he was at the
time at Nevis, but the same Witnesses
upon being closely cross-examined. did
not speak either clearly or firmly and
they We're often contradicted by Them
serves ana the evidence on the other side
Inc jury then retired, and after consult
ing half an hour. came back with the YER
dict of guilty. The president then sem
fenced him to DEATH Upon hearing this.
Barbot burst out to the court: MAY it
please your honors, since it can no longer
avail me to conceal the fact will make
frank confession of the whole.55 He
/ then started the story of how he at
tended the land sale at which he had been
insuted by Mr.. Mills and upon his ex-
lpostuiating, the deceased had cried, Sir.
you are an impertinent puppy" upon
which he had demanded an apology to
which Mills had replied to the effect that
he was always at Barbot,s service when
properly called upon.
The prisoner then told how on the fol-
lowing Thursday morning he had written
letter to the deceased bidding him keep
his promise to meet the writer at the
dawn of day near Lowland church, armed
only with case of pistols This meeting
never occurred, for the deceased wrote
back letter in answer and in all there
were six letters passed between them be-
fore a meeting could be properly ar
ranged. The last letter written by Mills
telling Barbot to meet him at Frigate
bay. The following morning he had gone
out in a canoe manned by some colored
men and rowed to Frigate bay, taking
ashore with him the black boy who car
ried his case.
Not long after the deceased came up
riding furiously on a horse. Mills then
jumped off his mount and taking the pis-
tolls from the holsters both he and Mills
presented. He then told how he fired
first, and Mills dropped crying Sir you
have killed me; you have killed me. SIR"
sorry, sir; pray to God to bless you, but
can stay no longer here He then raj
to his canoe and jumped in with the col
ored boy, and went back to town until his
arrest He said also that when he asked
the boy If the pistol of Mr.. Mills had
been fired, he said it had snapped.
After this confession, there could be no
doubt as to his guilt, and accordingly,
on the Goth of January 1753 the prisoner
was executed in the town of Basseterre,
according to the sentence pronounced
against him.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
Why Will They Do 1t

The foibles and weaknesses of hu-
man nature are source of never
failing interest to persons of philo-
sophical bent, who are for the most
part blissfully unconscious of their
own shortcomings. The ENHANCEMENT
of a Cincinnati millionaire with a
widow of 40 summers, which is just
now furnishing amusement to news
paper readers throughout the country,
is a repetition of the old story of a
rich man writing foolish love letters
to person of the opposite sex who
proposes to "realize" on those burn
ing missives.
There is weak spot in every mans
armor and it is located sooner or later
A certain individual may be a keen
financier, a shrewd man of business,
the father-in-law of a most noble
"dook," and in many respects per-
son of striking achievements, but he
falls an easy victim to the feminine
lure" and is subjected to ridicule of
the sort that most men find it ex-
tremely hard to endure. "Why will
rich men write love letters to design
ing women?" has been asked thou
sands Of times, but the fate of others
does not deter the latest victim from
walking or waddling, according to his
physical proportions, into the trap.
Hardly is one affair of this sort for
gotten by newspaper readers before
another is occupying conspicuous
place on the front page and adding to
the gaiety Of nations. Sometimes the
woman in the case" has youth and
beauty to commend her; sometimes
she has left youth behind but is still
spry, and sometimes there is no ac-
counting for the influence she exerts
over an elderly millionaire who ought
to know better.
There is only one way for the dupe
to win back any of his self-respect,
and that is by fighting the case to a
finish in court and refusing to be
mulcted. 1t isn't pleasant to face the
music, of course, but that is prefera-
BILE to weak and cowardly surrender
and a "cash consideration granted
the more or less fair plaintiff if she
will drop the suit.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
Striving to Secure the Prize

The contest to secure the great
southern Methodist university that is
to be built east of the Mississippi river
is between Birmingham and Atlanta.
The people of the Georgia capital
have long been famed for their public
spirit and their compelling enterprise.
But in this university matter Birming-
ham has a good start on Atlanta
When the educational commission of
the Methodist Episcopal church,
south, met here recently and an
nounced that the city offering the best
advantages would be selected for the
founding of the university not day
was lost in organizing movement
with view of winning the prize.
The advantages of Birmingham as
university city are exceptional. But
Atlanta has now walked up and is
working with it's wonted vigor. The
fact remains, however, that no matter
how much money Atlanta may raise
as an inducement for the location of
the university Birmingham has the
ideal site in the beautiful campus of
65 acres on Owenton hill. Our Georgia
10, H., ,,o4L;,or lilxa ~
The Rev. J. D. Simpson, president
of Birmingham college, which has
been offered as a nucleus for the uni
versity, has set the public straight on
a very important point. An idea had
obtained that the Methodist church
would have two fully organized uni
versities in the south--one in Dallas
and one this side of the Mississippi
river But Dallas is to have only an
academic department and theologi-
cal department. There will be but one
fully developed university, and that
will be either in Birmingham or At
lanta.
If the university is established here
it will have in addition to an acado''1ic
department and theological school a
school of technology and SCHOOL nf
law; and ultimately a medical school.
In other words, it will be university
in every sense of the term. After the
university is in operation, the Meth
odists under the jurisdiction of the en-
tire southern general conference will
contribute literally to its expansion
In few years the university will rep
resent an expenditure of many mil
lions of dollars. 1t will draw to this
city the Methodist publication house,
mission boards and other important
agencies of the Methodist church.
The prize sought is of great value,
indeed, and the Chamber of Com
merce, which is working to win it for
this city, can well afford to redouble
its energy if necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25

II was interested TO observe the other
day at the Terminal station two groups
of social servants. both bound for chi
cago," said a minister zone was led
by Miss Minnie Kennedy and was going
to the Sunday school convention. The
other consisted of Judge Muiph of the
Juvenile court, Miss Annie Laurie
sparkes. assistant secretary of the Asso-
cjated Charities, and Miss Mary Humph,
the tireless worker for children at the
Neighborhood House.
''These ladies' are taking course OF
special study at the Summer School OF
Philanthropy and Civics, residing at the
well known Chicago Commons, where DR..
Graham Taylor has for so many years
teen changing the spirit of Chicago's
poor and the attitude or Chicago's rich.
while Judge Murphy will pay special
attention to the work of juvenile and DO
nestle relations courts, Miss Sparkes and
Miss Rumph will devote their time chief
ly to family urbuilding and the service
of children. Here are illustrations OF
the wide range of modern social enter
PRISE
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
VACATION PHILOSOPHY

From the Indianapolis News.
Do not spend more money than you
can readily afford to spend. No benefit
aocrues from trying to squeeze 500 vaca-
ton out of $50 appropriation. 1t is far
better. on the contrary to take SIS vaca-
ton with your $50 allowance. You will
enjoy it more, because you will not be
harassed and nagged by the fear of lack
of means or by the necessity of counting
every cent and of getting the utmost out
of every nickel. Some persons, perhaps,
may not mind this sort of mental labor,
with it's attendant worry, but most of us
do. We invariably discount it, however
before the vacation is begun, only to re-
gret 1t as soon as we are started. And
the secret of the art of getting the most
out of vacation lies in foreseeing this re-
greet and forestalling it-in having not
only barely enough money, but more than
enough to do what you plan to do. 1t is
better to take a trolley ride and come
home solvent than to journey to the sea-
side and pawn your watch to get back.
Vacations ought to afford freedom from
vexation and not merely result in chang
ing a familiar care.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
ENTERING A NEW WORLD

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
A man was pardoned out of the Ohio
penitentiary at Columbus a few days ago
after serving 43 years of life sentence.
He entered the prison in 1870 at the age
of %. He left it at Sc to begin life over
again.
This prisoner never had seen an automo-
bile, bicycle, a motorcycle, an electric
car, an arc light, a picture show or
skyscraper. He had never heard a phono-
graph. He had never been in an elevator
or street car. He had never talked over
a telephone. He could not imagine any
thing about wireless biography and he
knew nothing about aeroplanes except
that he had once seen picture of a fly
ing machine in a book.
When released from prison he asked
that some one be sent with him until
he got used to things" What surprised
him most, he said. was the number of au-
tomobiles. In his day even the number of
buggies and carriages was limited. II
heard in prison that the world was NOV
ing faster and now I know it," he said
II can't explain 1t very we'll, but some
how it seems to be different sort of a
world, doing things in a different way.
The, changes that have come about in
a period of more than 40 years are mar
velous even to those who have witnessed
the onward march of improvement while
moving along in the vocations of normal
liife The ordinary citizen can have but
a faint conception of what a revelation the
activities of a modern city must be to
one who has been shut off from the world
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25

ployes." 1t follows, therefore, that
leach officer and employee should in
addition to doing everything in his
power to promote the physical eff
cheney of the service must at all times,
consider the moral efficiency And
this, Mr.. Harrison says, means first
of all that he should treat all patrons
of the company and others with whom
he may come in contact with polite
ness and courtesy.
This rule will be observed all along
the line Railroad companies that have
not already issued similar letters will
soon do so. In the meanwhile polite
ness will be the rule on all of our
southern lines.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
IN OLD KENTUCKY

FROM the WASHINGTON rust
A eugenic law in Kentucky? Impossi-
blei There must be some mistake in the
announcement that Kentucky is worried
over its human breed, and has enacted a
law which requires candidates for matri-
mony to give full and satisfactory partic-
ulars as to their physical condition be-
fore license will be granted.
Matters have come to a pretty pass II
the state of handsome men and beautiful
women must take measures to keep up
the standard of perfection. What must be
the conditions in other states If the chiv-
airy and beauty of the Blue Grass state
are decadent?
No new-fangled law was necessary to
make the manhood and womanhood of
Kentucky great. Nature alone, working
in the Eden known to mortals as Ken
lucky developed a superb race. The men
were mighty of thew, tall, impetuous in
love and war; gifted alike for the forum
or the field, carrying all before them. And
the women-ah, the women of Kentucky!
Poetry and tradition wove around them a
halo of romance through which their
beauty and charm shed a radiance that
enraptured all mankind.
If Kentucky thinks she can improve
upon the splendid type of humanity she
has developed she is vainly trying to
gild refined gold and paint the lily. Repeal
this foolish law, which stands as an adj
mission that humankind in Kentucky is
on the down grade. Stick to the old
standards, and thus remain the envy of
your sister states, which would be happy
indeed to share the fame already
achieved by Kentucky in rearing brave
men and lovely women.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25

Not only should politeness be cult
waited for its own sake, but it is a
profitable business asset and should
be valued accordingly. The circular
letter which President Fairfax Har
rison of the Southern railway has
issued to all officers and employees of
his company on the subject of cour-
tesy, and which was reproduced in The
Age Herald of yesterday, is one of the
evidences of attention which public
service corporations are now giving
to matters formerly considered too
small for executive consideration.
Many of the great railroad companies
of this country have issued similar
circulars.
In the early days of railroad trans
portation questions pertaining to rates
and traffic facilities occupied the pub
lie mind. This or that line became I'M
popular because of alleged exorbitant
charges and rate determinations But
it was plain to see that the arrogant
manner of some railroad officials and
the disobliging spirit of some of the
employees contributed to the public
feeling aroused against railroads in
general. A great deal of railroad bait
ing in which politicians have INDUCED
would have been wholly Intellectual
had it not been for the incivility which
patrons of the road had received at
the hands of station agents and trans
portation officials.
But this is an age of progress, and
the saying of the late w. w. Finley,
president of the Southern at the time
of his death, "He serves the railroad
best who serves the public BEST" has
come to be popular motto.
Mr.. Harrison in his letter impresses
upon employees the fact that "a rail-
road is first of all public servant"
He then goes on to show that "the
success of railroad as business en-
terprise depends in large measure not
only upon the efficiency of the trans
portation afforded, but upon the per-
sonal treatment which those doing
business with the railroad receive at
the hands Of its officers and en-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF JOHN BARBOT

m HE unfortunate gentleman who lost
his life in the melancholy affair of
= John Barbot was one Matthew
Mills, who owned considerable estates in
St Christopher, Antigua and in different
other West Indian Islands.
On January 4, 1853. Barbot, who was an
Englishman and born in London was in
dicted for the murder of Matthew Mills,
gentleman. On the following day the
prisoner was arraigned before the court
of gaol delivery held at Basseterre. in
ST. Chrlstophers. which court was pre-
sided over by William Matthew Burt,
president of his majesty's council in the
island The prisoner pleaded not guilty,
and ON his request was allowed Mr.. Frye
as counsel to argue points of law and to
examine and cross-examne him.
The case was opened by John Baker,
the solicitor general of the island. Adj
dressing the court, he followed the case
all the way through. 1.-THE controversy"
he said, (which eventually led to the
death started when Mills put for sale
some land which he owned This was sold
by auction. and all present were surprised
to hear the prisoner bid much more
money than he was worth or could in any
way command. Mills then drew the
prisoner aside and told him that once be-
fore he had done the same thing and the
purchase monew had never been paid:
that he should not do it this time. for he
tMills) knew that the prisoners purpose
was to break up the sale. The prisoner had
arIf o6 in, HE
the matter was dropped. However, nearly
two weeks later, Mills was found dead
shot in the side-lying on the sands,
Two doctors, Hamilton and Edwards.
were then sworn and when asked if they
had been called to inspect the body of
the deceased, replied in the affirmative.
Dr.. Hamilton was closely questioned as to
whether or not the shot could have been
fired while the deceased was In a state
of self defense, or whether it was fired
from behind without Mills seeing the as
sassin, to which Hamilton replied that he
positively could not have been in a pos
| ture of self defense, as the ball had en-
tered on the right side. nearer to the
| back than the front of the body.
DR.. Horne, who was also with Hamilton
| after the death, on being questioned. re-
piled that he could say no more to throw
any light than Hamilton had already re-
lated.
Barbot, In his defense, tried to prove
that he was not at Basseterre at the time
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
IN HOTEL LOBBIES


Business is improving rapidly.
said John S. Partlow of Chicago With
the governments favorable crop report
June 1, business conditions began to
rally, and Improvement has been felt
ever since.
This will be the greatest crop year
In the history of the United states.
BY the 1st of July a healthy boom will
set in that will continue throughout
the rest of the year.
''The south is a highly prosperous
section of the country. and as for Ala
bama 1t was never so prosperous as
1t is today. Alabama is more talked
about in the north than any other
southern state"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
UNAvAILING THRIFT
From the Philadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
Evidently there are some thrifty people
still left. The story of the West Phila-
delphia servant girl who on salary of
$3.50 week (s1s2 Year, managed to save
enough in 10 years to buy $1,000 house,
shows that self denial continues as a
virtue. Unfortunately, her judgment In in
vestment was not equally strong, and the
poor girl lost her all by confiding it to
Napoleon of finance who had also risen
from domestic service. If to her ability to
save this young woman had Joined the
shrewdness of practiced investor 1t is
easily imaginable that she would have
become a second Hetty Green.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
LIFE. THE SCHOOL DAY

Paul Derrick in the Windsor Magazine of
London.
I'll breast this tide of time, be not mere
driftwood;
Will dare, will do, will front the dawning
sun;
Nor pause to count the trophies 1 have
won;
Will laugh at fear. for youth is crowned
with courage,
And on his lips is hopes triumphant
song,
For what is life to me but hopeless dream
ing
If l stand idle in an eager throng?
will not murmur though the way be
weary,
Nor shun the depths where ambushed
sorrows sleep;
In manhood's battle I will scorn to falter,
So with my burden stagger up the steep.
Though bruised by failure, still my heart
will triumphs;
Hopes drenched with tears will bloom to
bless again,
For what Is life but striving for express
And learning lessons writ in pangs of
pain?
I'll bide with love, and self will be for
gotten;
Ask less and less bestowing more and
more;
Nor will yield to either doubt or dogma.
While shadows creep toward the eastern
shore,
For truth alone will now sustain my
spirit,
Life grows more free, my ego is un-
bound
For what is life but Just to test the metal
OF my own soul and shape it to the
round?
I'll watch my evening star climb up the
heavens;
Will see my sands run out. the shadows
| fall.
Behold as past survives. so does the fu-
| ture
Whose gates swing open to receive us
all:
I'll wait in peace and confidence the
hour.
I hear the word of wisdom said-and 10,
l see that life, in truth. is but a school
My part to learn at last my part to
knowi