davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

but is much heavier and is intended chiefly for coast defense. The Gruson turrets are built for heavy guns and have withstood a point-blank fire of 110-ton guns.
 The Belgian cupolas figured large ly Tn the stout defense of Liege made by the Belgians against considerable odds in numbers. The cupolas mount a rapid-fire gun capable of discharging p or 30 shots minute They lie close to the ground and protrude only three or four feet above the surface, an ex- cavation being made to contain the gun chase and magazine. They can be operated by not more than 10 men and usually have an all-around fire. The cupola covers the chase and mag azine like a lid. The only opening is a port for the gun muzzle. The gun is trained by revolving the cupola. A cupola cannot be demolished except by guns so heavy that they cannot be moved about with troops.
 Perhaps, after all, the armored cupola is an evolution of the old fash toned blockhouse which was capable of a stout defense in it's time, but is no longer useful except in contend ing with savage or semi-savage peo- ples who have no artillery. Having no frontier to guard from powerful foe. this country does not need armored cupolas, but they have already proved highly serviceable in Belgium and have amply justified the far-sighted engineers who hit upon this unique plan of defense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
Cost of Producing Cotton

Tt is not possible to figure the cost of growing cotton in the general sepse, as so many varying details enter into the proposition, said Hal T. Walker, owner of a plantation in the black belt, near Montgomery, who is visiting his daugh- ter, Mrs James H. Hillman.
 Tt is probable that some farmers get their crops marketed at cost of 8 cents for all expenses of production, and yet some others will find It running full up to 10 cents.
 The conservative planter, satisfied to get good living from his large acreage, goes the even tenor Of his way and does not trouble about theories of improved farming. The aged land owner is willing to leave such things to the generation to follow, and his holdings to his children. He enjoys the homage of his negro ten ants and the fellowship of his peers. Ev- cry summer there is chain of 5arbecues and watermelon feasts, and these add to the joy of living in the black belt, with its broad acres and magnificent distances between settlements''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF JOHN H. sURRATT

seen him in the city on the day of the murder.
 During the trial over suo witnesses were examined This testimony was concluded on July p, when District Attorney E. C.. Darlington addressed the jury. Richard T. Merrick, the junior counsel of the de- fendant, followed, creating a profound sensation by his impass;oned vindication of Mrs. Surratt, the mother.
 On Saturday, August 3. Edwards Pierre1 pont began the closing argument for thel United States-a labored effort renderAd q intolerably tedious by vopious readingd or the testimony, decorated with lengthy1 quotations from the Bible, and suffused throughout with pious unction.
 On August the charge was given td the jury. The jury retired at noon on thd same day and remained in seclusion until o'clock on Saturday, the 10th, when the foreman came in and announced that the| jurors stood precisely now as when they first balloted (eight to four for the prisoner) and could not possibly make al verdict
 The jury was thereupon discharged dSalnst the protest or the prisoner, Who| was remanded to the custody of the marJ shal. The idea of another trial, it isl probable, was never seriously entertained by the government. Under recent act| of Congress another jury could not have| been selected before the ensuing Febru1 ary, and, for the sake of aprearancesJ the defendant was kept in jail in the| meantime, and subsequently, the case wad set down for the 24th of that month OuI June p, 1868. the defendant was released on bail and three months later the indict-| ment was mole pressed"
 The counsel defending the prisoner dur-I ing the trial were General Merrick and John G. Carlisle. That so prominent arI accomplice in the murGer of the ever-to- De lamented Lincoln should have been al-l lowed to walk the earth a free man, with-I out arousing an overwhelming outbust Of popular wrath, is applicable alone k the hypothesis that the public at large5 shared in the misgivii.ss of the authori1 J ties as to the strength of their case Had Surratt been caught in time to be tried| by the military commission nothing could| have saved him from the fate of hsI mother Conversely, had Mary E. Sur-l ratt been spared to b., tried by a civil tribunal she never would have met thel death of shame. As the decision of the| supreme court of the United States madeI void the proceedings of the military comJ mission as matter of law, so the dis charge Of her son reversed it's condemned tion on the merits of the case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
CupoIas At Liege

That the aeroplane, the dirigible airship and wireless telegraphy are not the only innovations of modern warfare is shown by the news reports of the battle around Liege, where the Germans found their most powerful guns unable to demolish the armored cupolas mounting rapid-fire guns which commanded the approaches to many of the important bridges across the Mouse.
 The cupolas, which are distinctly novel feature of modern warfare, are unknown in this country, but they are employed extensively along the French border to command the principal ave nues of approach across the iron tier. Germany uses what is known as the Gruson turret, which somewhat resembles in idea the Belgian cupolas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
Tidings from Austr,a

| "As my father and mother Mr. and Mrs. B. Steiner. are in Austria, I am as a matter of course watching the mails with great eagerness..' said Her bert Steiner yesterday.
 "on Saturday last I received letter from father dater at Marienbad, July 25 Although Austria Hungary had de- clared war on Servia. there seemed to he little excitement at the time my father wrote. But today I received a letter from Marienbad, dated July 2s. in which father gives a lively account of conditions. Such excitement I have never known before,' my father says Everyone who can is leaving Marien- bad, and the place is half empty
 -~As Germany had not declared war at the time my father wrote 1t was his purpose to take an automobile and go to Eger and there catch a German train. He said that if Germany should get into the conflict then he didn't know how he would get away from Austria. Father concludes his letter as follows:
 The patriotism here among the Germans is wonderful. Rosa and I en- joy it immensely, but "we should wor ry." However, within q few days food will get scarce and if 1 don't get enough. then l will go too. Combined with the hardships. the weather is rain ing continuously and is very cold, and today the thermometer is at AS. We are well, thank God, and take our treatment every day. My heart is in good condition; I enjoy this place and it does me good.
 Sunday morning Kaiser Strassa was full of trunks and some people were packing them on the streets in their haste to get out. We are due to go to play tonight, but in case the actors are Austrians, they will have to go to war, and the play will be called off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
oyERwoRKED BEATING MUSCLE,

London Correspondence in New York
 American.
 One of the questions which has lately been exercising the brains of medical au- thorities in London, Paris and New York is the treatment of tired patients. It has only recently been ascertained that this is due to the eating muscle being out of order.
 In order to brink back vitality to this important organ the patient must lie on a board with his feet about two feet higher than his head.
 Tt is little short of comic," said a Harley street doctor to the American "to see long row of patients in nursing home with their feet cooked up in the air, lying at full length alongside each other.'
 Tt is quite a mistake to suppose that the most tired people are those who work their limbs most, said the doctor Those who abuse the eating muscle are in reality the weary Willies. It is the people over 40 that are most prone to the eating muscle trouble. They overwork the or gan by eating rich meats at banquets and dinner parties. The eating muscle is one of the most sensitive portions of the human organism"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

London Dispatch in the Chicago Tribune. Though Oscar Wilde has been dead for thirteen years, the notoriety of his name is kept alive by an apparently endless succession of quarrels among his friends and his friends friends. Ultimately it will be possible to strip Wilde's writing of the adventitlous interest of social celeb rity and of scandal and to estimate their intrinsic value Before this estimate is likely to be made by the nearest genera ton some measure of agreement will be necessary on the facts of Wilde's career Although Lord Alfred Douglas "Oscar Wilde and Myself is not the kind of soft answer which will turn away the wrath of his various opponents 1t will help peo- pie to form their estimate of the facts of the intimacy and confirm their probable impression of oscar Wlldes character and talents.
 Lord Alfred Douglas has a pungent or even feline literary touch, but his general statement of the relations between Oscar Wilde and himself it straightforward and CT edible. He has frankly outgrown any excessive admiration for Wilde either as
 
 illusionment was completed by the dis covery of Wilde's attacks in the unpub- lished portions of "De Profundis."
 The writer denies that he knew the ex- tent and character of Wildes viciousness Until after legal proceedings had been begun, and makes some true and incsive observations on Wiljes craving for mo- toriety, which falsified his talent and substituted imitativeness and shallow epi- gram for what might have been inde- pendent genius. But the time has not yet come for final appreciation, nor is Lord Alfred Douglas the critic to undertake it. He is fairly entitled to tell his story of the relationship, though it would have been all the better for being told more shortly and with less acrimonious refer ence to number of people of very small real importance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

N the round up of the many persons
 accused of being Implicated in the
 murder of President Lincoln, the most sought after of the men who had made good their escape was John H. Sur ratt. search was at once started for his apprehension, but he made his way to Canada. While his mother was under going the torture of her trial he lay con- cealed In the house of friendly priest some 40 miles from Montreal
 Surratt remained in nrding in Canada until he was able, under an assumed name, osail for Liverpool from Oue- bee. He travelled unhihdered to London, Paris and finally to Rome, where in the early spring of the following year. under the name of Watson, he enlisted in the Papal Zouaves and was sent on garrison duty to post near ths Neapoitan from tier.
 There Surratt might have remained un- known until the end of his service had he not accidentally met another zouave of the same company Who was an Ameri- can and who had known him in Maryland. He reported his discovery to the Ameri- can minister to Italy. Rufus King and on November ?, 1866, "zouave Watson was metamorphosed Arom a soldier into a prisoner of state. He was taken to the military prison at Rome From here he made his escape and boarded a steamer for Alexandria. Egypt, which port he reached on the 27th, and the American consul there being apprised of his com ing, he was finally intercepted and held to await the arrival of a United States vessel to carry him to his country
 The United States corvette Swatara touched at Alexandria on December 21, and when 1t departed 1t carried Surratt to the United States to stand trial. On February 21 the vessel cast anchor abreast of the Washington navy yard. There. in sight of the prison in which his mother was tried and condemned and under which she lay buried, Surratt. by order of the Secretary of State. was de- livered into the hands of the civil authori- ties.
 The district attorney at once began to prepare for his trial. The trial opened on June 10. 1867. and lasted until August Il, 62 days. During the trial there was a general impression that Surratt would be able to prove an alibi, so far as his being in Washington at>or near the time of the | assassination, but this was not the case. for a number of men swore that they had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
Cotton Crop and Prices

This years cotton crop has been va riously estimated at from l3,000,oOo to 15,O00,O0O bales. Alabama has made bumper crop, and despite boil weevil ravages in some counties this state will produce, it is thought, not less than 100000 bales, and some observers and statisticians think the Alabama crop will not be far short of 1,eOO,0O0
 Looking back over a period of ID wears, Alabama's cotton crop multi piled by 10 has given approxlmateiy the total of the entire crop of the country. This rule may not hold good this year, for weather conditions In Alabama were especially favorable, while in some parts of Texas and Tn some other states conditions were not altogether favorable.
 With normal market situation the farmers could have counted on selling their cotton at 13 or IA cents, but the European war has made trouble for the cotton south. Western grain farmers will get large prices for their crops this year because of the war, but in order to maintain market for cotton the government must aid. As President Harvie Jordan of the Southern Cotton association says: 'United effort on the part of all the people is imperative at this time" He urges most earnestly large attend ance at the general conference to be held in New Orleans August 27-2S.
 "The cotton situation," says Pres ident Jordan, "while grave, can be handled with safety to the growers of the south if prompt and systematic plans for financing the crop tempo rarily are adopted and put into execu- ton throughout the 800 cotton grow ing counties"
 The Age Herald reproduces some of the interviews, including MT. Jordan's, which the Progressive Farmer pub fishes this week. They will be read with great interest at this time. The Progressive Farmer, in summarizing the situation, calls attention to the danger that farmers may take 9 and lO-cent prices this fall and that specu- lators and buyers will then sell the same cotton for IA to Is cents after Christmas" The editor of that jour nal urges every farmer who makes even a bale of cotton to write to his representative in Congress and say: q believe the government should help finance the cotton crop in the present crisis, and so arrange it that farmers can get this help without paying any body high interest or negotiation charges"
 This is certainly a time for the farmers to "get busy" and to stand together. They should act promptly on the suggestion to write members of Congress, and by all means let the leading farmers of the south arrange to attend the conference in New Or leans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
TOMoRRow-TRIAL OF LORD WILLIAM BYRON

French army that they have no doubt ot wipng out the defeats of 1870 by series of victories which will leave Germany crushed and bleeding at their feet.
 Even if she sues for peace now said one French officer, i've will grant it only after the surrender Of Alsace.Lorrains and full payment for our mobilization. Another officer said thur the troops or the frontier were so excited that it would be impossible to hold them back even il Germany tried at the last moment to al range terms of peace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
WARES TO SUIT.


 How about collection of the world. pest poetry in six vofumes?" said tn DOCK agent. Selections from Shake speare' Milton. Spencer and all the ia nous poets.''
 saw exclaimed the man at the desk wheeling around in his chair and dis playing poker vest. pink shirt am diamond stud. what sorter gulf are yo, tryin' to gimme?"
 Beg pardon" answered the resource ful agent, as he reached into his satche and drew out paper-coyered volume. .. was just about to ask you if you woul, like to have copy of the life of John L Sullivan written by one of the most note, referees in the business"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Enjoyed Summer Resort

My daughter and I spent a week at Tate and greatly enjoyed the social features of that popular Tennessee re- sort" said s. F. Thompson. who re- turned home a day or two ago.
 T had been hearing of Tate for many years, but had never stopped there before. It is a beautiful place, and representative people from all over the south are found there. One day during my short sojourn there were e2 arrivals"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
L'ENvoI
By Rudyard Kipling.

By Rudyard Kipling. The smoke upon your altar dies. The flowers decay, The goddess of your sacrifice
 Has flown away. What profit then to sing or slay The sacrifice from day to day? We know the shrine is void." the The goddess flown Yet wreaths are on the altar laid The altar-store Is black with fumes of sacrifice. Albeit she has fled our eyes. For it may be. if still we sing And tend the shrine, Some deity on wandering wing May there incline; And, finding all in order mee Stay. while we worship at he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
LET US HAVE PEACE.

Beware of the fierce Welsh rabbit. men Avoid him with a frown; For he does all his fighting when You think you have him down.
 Cincinnati Enquirer. Don't fight John Barleycorn, old pard, Said clever Uncle Sidney, Because he hits blow that's barred He whales you on the krdney."
 New York Mail The Lobster is brilliant red, It's claws are often felt; Don't tackle it at supper, lads, It hits below the belt
 Memphis Commercial-Appeal. Beware of dry Martins, men, The ninth reject it; The pesky. things will floor you when You least expect it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
RidgeIy Fast Filling In

"The Ridgely apartments will be en- tirely filled, no doubt, by the 1st of October. and once filled they will con
 "The Ridgely is building of inn mense size and capacity as everyone knows, and it was doing well to start off at the beginning of summer 50 per cent full. It has been filling up grad ually ever since and l understand that very few apartments are left un- signed for. The service is excellent strictly high class-and any family or bachelor may be considered most fortunate if they or he secures a home there'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
THESE REMAIN

From the Houston Post.
 The tumult and the shouting dies. thd
 boosters and the hunks depart so dd
 the snorting other guys who've been 2 nuisance from the start. But, Lord of Hosts. we can't forget, the Sons of Rest are with us yet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

War is instructive, declares an ex- change. But for the present situation
 few of us would know who King Albert is. Another viewpoint has it that 1t is far better for the ruler in question should a few of us who know who he is than many who he was.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

Consumers who smoke imported" ciga- plies being cut short. New York facto- ries will continue to turn them out in large quantities
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

About the most pitiful photograph imag- inable would be that of Andrew Carnegie with the dove of peace in his arms, taken
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
WHO LOVES HIS WORK.

Ills daily duties please him we'll
 And maybe that's the reason why. NO hardship makes him fain rebel,
 NOT aims the laughter Tn his eye.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
WELL INFORMED.

Are you keeping up with the war news, dearie?''
 Indeed I am Three Swiss battleships were sunk yesterday by German cruisers and President Carbajal of France is lead ing the French army against the Bel gians."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

Society women of Paris who are acting as clerks in stores have found out for the first time in their lives how it feels
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

Germany's first call for financial aid will be made upon the peoples savings. In other words. Germany expects every man to pay his duty
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

One objection to federal ownership of railroads Is that it might take away that fat mileage allowance from our national law makers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

A New York detective gave up s10 he won while obtaining evidence in gam bling resort. We expect to see him in moving pictures almost any day now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

habitants of it as one band of brothers, striving which should most contribute to the happiness of mankind
 Abraham Lincoln: With malice toward none. with charity for all. with frmness in the right as God gives us to see the right let us strive to do all which may achieve and cherisi. just and last ing peace among ourselves and with all nations.
 Emanuel Kant: The method by which states prosecute their rights cannot under present conditions be process of law, since no court exists having Jurisdiction over them. but only war. But. through war, even if it result in victory, the question of right is not decided.
 Robert F. Lee: But what a cruel thing is war, to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joy and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred in- stead of love for our neighbors and to devastate the fair face of the beautiful world.
 Paris Correspondence Philadelphia Pub lie Ledger: The enthusiasm, gaiety and confidence of the French soldiers on their way to the front is wonderful During the campaign in the Balkans the Bull garians marched to war sullenly and si- lently, as though they had no heart in the dreadful business, although they fought afterward with wonderful cour- age, but the French soidIers go laughing.
  ''On to Berlinl On to Berlin! As troop trains pass one hears the "Marsellaise'' waited from the carriage windows. The, are so srpremeIy confident of the perfect
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

With neutrality to maintain. Uncle Sam will hardly be able to keep as close a watch on Mexico as he has done here tofore
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

War invariably raises the prices on inn ports and we may yet get an inkling as to just how much of this French imported wine Is made in California.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

As long as Italy keeps out of the fuss there will be no rise in the price of spaghetti.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

Sailing in sea thicby strewn with mines is no picnic, even if you happen to be aboard neutral vessel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

Perhaps Huerta will decide that a tour of Europe just at present is not to be thought Of.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
NO RESULTS.

NV
 Wife said MT. Tupper, I'm proud to say that no matter how unlxindly you speak to me, I never answer back That's what makes me so mad. ] snapped Mrs. Tupper T might as well be talking to dummy" P. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

If you accost a London policeman now you are apt to find yourself addressing member of the nobility.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

The Kaiser has gone to the front, but in that direction as his soldiers do
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13
HARD TO RELIEVE.

HARD TO BELIEVE. "Spindlift seems to be rather vain of his personal appearance" said Grabscom. He certainly is,'' assented Jagsby. I've seen him admire himself so much in barroom mirror that he'd forget to order a drink''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

It's lucky thing for the Germans that the Krupp guns are made at home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

New Orleans probably believes the news 1t gets from Paris and discounts the news 1t gets from Berlin.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-13

No, Estella, the United Mine Workers
 are not laying the mines you read about in the newspapers