davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
poIsoNous TREES

From the New York American.
Nettles. poison ivy and poison sumac
are by no means the only plants which
have a poisonous effect ON the human
skin Poisonous substances exist in many
trees, and even after they have been
cut and sawed a sufficient quantity of
the poison remains in the lumber so that
workmen who handle it are liable to in
fection.
Amberwood is impregnated with a pow
erful poison, according to DR.. Heinz Graf.
who has been investigating the subject
for the German Botanical society.
Two different kinds of wood are in
cluded under the terms ainberwood-the
genuine East India or Asiatic satinwood
or ''silkwood," and the satin hardwood or
underwood. The two are quite different
in external appearance. Nestler succeeds
in extracting the active substance only
from the latter. This is stearnlike SUBJ
stance soluble only in ether A small
quantity of it placed in contact with the
skin of the underarm, in the course of
about five hours produced a tensely
swollen yellowish blister surrounded By
red area of Inflammation. After the
bursting of the blister an ulcer remained
which required four weeks to heal.
What is known as ''cocobola' wood con-
tains poisonous substance easily soluble
in alcohol and benzol, less so in water.
1t is apparently an ethereal oil. The
placing of fine sawdust of this wood on
the moist skin causes first violent
smarting Following this, red spots Or
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
Decrease of Mob Law

In studying the annals of the year
that is just gone the entire country
has Just cause for congratulation in
the appreciable decrease of the num-
ber of it's lynchings.
In 1918 the aggregate of summary
proceedings reached forty-four, which
vas six less than that of the preceding
year and there was not single in
stance of the burning of victim at
the stake.
Mississippi and Georgia lead in the
role of lynching states for 1913 with
eight each to their discredit; Texas
comes next with six, and Florida is its
Immediate successor with four. With
but two exceptions all Of the lynch
inRs occurred in the south, there be-
ing one in North Dakota, where a
white man was hanged by the mob
and one in Montana, where negro
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

great as they were, that had passed.
but the approaching exhibition has its
eyes upon the future and is to cele-
brate not only the most glorious
achievement of modern times, but an
accomplishment that is to fashion a
new and lasting groove in the trend
of the worlds progress and advance
ment.
Chicago and Illinois combined did
less for the Worlds fair in 1893 than
San Francisco alone has done in sup
port of the Panama Pacific exhibition;
st. Louis and Missouri united fell
short of what San Francisco has done
for the approaching fair, and yet the
United States government was far
more liberal in its appropriations to-
ward either of those projects than it
has been in behalf of the coast exhi-
bition.
This is lack of patriotism, lack
of appreciation, lack of comprehen-
sion and apparently lack of intelli-
gence upon the part of our national
government.
But the influence of the attitude Of
the United States in this matter is not
confined to home; it is far-reaching,
in fact worldwide. Unquestionably to
this attitude may be attributed the
failure of Germany and England to
provide for national exhibits at the
Panama-Pacific exhibition. 1t is
puerile and demagogic to assign jeal-
ousy and hostility to Great Britain or
antagonism upon the part of Germany
as the motive which accuated their de-
clension at participation. If the great
fair, they justly argued, with all it's
stupendous benefits accruing to the
United States was only entitled to the
small pecuniary recognition of $780,
900 at the hands of that government,
surely the project was of such little
import to their interests as to demand
of them no consideration whatever.
When the world is our guest Uncle
Sam will appear in the role of par
simonious host and content in the self
ish attitude of allowing California to
dispense the hospitality. Surely not an
enviable position to occupy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

pimples appear. accompanied by redness
and inflammation of that part OF the
skin, followed by scaling.
Similar phenomena are caused by the
plant Cortusa Matthioii, but they are
even stronger, since blsters are pro-
duced Touching the plants is enough TO
cause irritation, and the infection may
be transmitted to other persons by
hands so infected. The bearers of the
irritating substance in this case are
gland hairs as in the case of the prlm-
rose This substance is a crystallizaole
sap which can be extracted from gland
hairs.
The sawdust of the Mexican bluegun is
harmful when the skin is especially sensi-
tive from some other cause. workman
who was suffering from tuberculosis, and
who later died from it, was attacked, az
ter splitting this lumber, by an eruption
of the underarm which forced him TO
stop work. Others who did similar Ia
Dor for years had no i'll effects. In this
case the tuberculosis may have created
the disposition.
AS result of his investigation DR.. Graz
satinwood and gardeners who grow pol
sonous plants to protect their hands
arms and head from direct contact with
the wood, sawdust or injured portions OF
the plants. At the first sign of any in
fammation of the skin the sufferer should
receive the attention of a dermatolog1st.
Tt has long been thought that poisoning
might result from the proximity of sumac,
even II the plant was not touched, but
DR.. Graf denies this. visitor to the
Berlin botanical gardens recently brought
suit for damages for injuries which he
alleged he had suffered on account OF
his near proximity to poisonous sumac,
which is on exhibition In the gardens. But
the suit was lost, for the directors of
tho garden proved conclusively that for
poisoning to occur the plant must be in
jured and the injured portion brought into
direct contact with the skin.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
Southern Prosperity

1t is reasonable to say that the
south Is more prosperous now than at
any time in it's history" said Capt. ].
r. Baker of Nashville.
From the Ohio river down to the
gulf the farmers have prospered during
the past few years. and in 1913 thew
We're exceptionally prosperous. | have
been in touch with Alabama and Geor-
gia for many years. and have never
known such a high degree of prosperity
in the rural districts of the states
named as I find today. The country
merchant reports high water mark in
trade.
"All the large cities of the south are
progre sing-M emphis, Nashville. Chat
tanooga, Birmingham. Atlanta and so
on I think Birmingham made greater
progress last year than in any previous
year 1t is far handsomer city than it
was even two or three years ago, when
the beauty of it's residence section was
very generally remarked
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
just from Tampico

{. b. Swanson. who was registered at
the Southern club yesterday from New
Orleans, came to this country very re-
Gently from Tampico, Mexico. He has
friends in Birmingham and is greeted here
most cordially. Mr.. Swanson is a native
of England but his education was large
ly In Germany. lie was in the technolog-
lcai department of the University of Ber-
lin six years, and in the commercial law
department at Heidelberg two years. Mr..
swanson represents large European capi-
tai invested in the oil industry in Mex
leo.
l was here several years ago and was
impressed with the possibilities of this
city then" said Mr.. Swanson. "Birming-
ham has improved wonderfully in seven
years. find it a very handsome city
today, and it's future cannot be over
estimated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
REMARKABLE FEAT


Frederick birmingham, the American
who made a descent into the crater of
vesuvius on Tuesday, tells more sensa-
tional story of his feat than was ir1i-
agined when the news was first published
here.
Mr. Birmingham said today that he
reached the extreme bottom of the crater,
depth of 1919 feet, while the volcano
was active at that depth Professor Mer-
CALI, director of the vesuvius observatory,
had believed this impossible. He is
amazed at the proofs of his assertion sub
mitted by the American.
Profe ssor Malladra, who made descent
into the crater to a depth OF 1900 feet.
SAID that Burlinghams trip was the most
dangerous ever attempted. He surmises
from Burlinghams story that another
part of the floor of the crater has col
lapsed owing to the increasing activity
of the volcano
Mr. Burlingame said that three Italians,
Sonniro Formassino and Gaudino, aide
Kim. They slept three nights on the top
of the mountain waiting for a propitious.
moment for the descent. This came on
December q. Ropes were launched over
the precipice and the descent began. On
account of the unsteady wind making the
descent very difficult, Gaudino remained
en- the edge of the second precipice to
watch the ropes as the others descended.
"As my companions kept talking of dam
ger" said Mr.. Birmingham, II volun-
teered to carry the cinematrograph ma
al,i r1x T a
had to carry the half plate camera. Son.
nino carried the tripod, which weighed 20
pounds.
"While descending below the third preci-
pice almost Immediately over the large
sulphur fumerole. the wind changed and
we were enveloped in dense sulphur
fumes. A cloud of dangerous acid fumes
csme next. We had taken the precaution
to tie cloths around our faces. We stood
moticnless there for 20 minutes, breath
ing as little as possible, hoping for the
fumes to pass.
"As they continued we decided to de-
scend further and eventually reached the
floor of the crater by passing over steep
slope between the sulphurous fumerole
and the main mouth of the crater which
was opened in July.
'There was no immediate danger there,
so we took a motion picture of the new
crater and the precipitous surrounding
walls. Then | suggested making descent
of 200 feet through the tunnel to the
mouth. Sonnino, who is an expert OH
Nesuvius, warned me that the lives of all
would be in danger, but we finally agreed
to take the risk.
IL continued TO carry the cinema ma
chine. We reached the edge of the open
ing, from which red hot smoke was is
suing in a great volume. l estimated that
the temperature was 600 degrees cent?
grade. We got back to the surface with
.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
TANGO DANCED IN THE NUDE

Berlin Correspondent New York Herald.
The tango is still the chief topic of ball
room discussion. The Berlin season has
produced a crop of interesting opinions
Count Franz Won Montegelas, who is the
Beau Brummel of Berlin society, says
Like all impassoned dancers, ] am a
supporter of the tango I consider it
both rhythmically and musically a perfect
dance. The danger of tango is not moral
but aesthetic. for it requires to be danced
very well or not at all, and unfortu-
nately many tangoists overestimate their
abilities"
Carl Meinhard. the director of the Ber-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

"HE life of Aaron Burr presents one
of the most interesting character
= studies of any persons who has fig
ured prominently in the history of our
country. In the truest sense Aaron Burr
was we'll born, and in spite of his many
shortcomings, chief of which was his
fanatical ambition, which finally led him
to flee his country and eventually die a
forsaken and disgraced man, he possessed
many admirable qualities.
AS statesman he was one of the most
distinguished of his period. His first
great misfortune came when as Vice
President of the United States he fought
his duel with Alexander Hamilton, and
killed him. The Indignation against Burr
knew no bounds Though an indictment
of murder was made against him, he was
left unmolested but ruined man.
Burr escaped to South Carolina, where
he took refuge in the home of his daugh-
ter. but eventually went TO Washington
and completed his term as Vice President.
Though his political prospects were
blasted and his name eXecrated his bold
and resoute spirit did not break.
Burr turned his attention to the great
west at the expiration Of his term of
office. and there he was destined to add
one more political crime to his corrupt
career as public man. Here he hoped
to erect a new empire with himself at
its head But his intrigue was discov-
cred in time. The Illustration of Burr s
scheme was largely due to the revelations
made by General Wilkinson in whom
Burr had confded as far es to communi-
cate quite fully the character of his expe-
dition.
Government spies had for some time
been on Burr,s track, and, in view Of his
/, supposed design to attempt a separation
of the western states from the federal
union, the governor of Ohio was appealed
overtake Burr and his deluded followers
as they passed down the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi rivers. But they almost had
reached New Orleans before they wera
apprehended
1T was in Alabama that he was arrested
by Lieutenant Edmund F. Gaines and
was taken to Richmond, Va, to be tried
by the United States on a charge of high
treason. This trial was held before Chief
Justice John Marshall On trial at last.
the whole United States waited the re-
suit with the profoundest interest. 1t
was one of the most memorable state oc-
casions in the history of human govern
ments. District Attorney Hay and the
renowned William Writ appeared for the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
The Tango Dance

No dance has ever so captlVateu
England and America as the tango
In the dancing world novelty has
ready appeal, but many a new torn
of terpsichorean art soon loses It's
appeal unless it is Informed by
rhythmic grace. The turkey trot had
only a short vogue. 1t lacked refine
ment and grace. The tango on the
/. other hand is all grace and beauty,
and its charm has made distinct
impression upon dancers, old and
young.
When the tango was introduced into
England and this country the church
authorities condemned it. But those
society leaders, who had careful re-
gard for the proprieties and the moral
side of the question, contended that
the tango, when properly danced, was
entirely free from Objectionable fea-
lures.
An Associated Press dispatch from
London in The Age-Herald of yester-
day reported matinee performance
at a metropolitan theatre for the edi-
fication of peeresses and church dig
nitaries who had expressed disap-
proval CT The tango. The result was
clean bill of modesty for the much
discussed dance. In the audience were
several bishops as we'll as duchesses
end countesses. When vote was
taken 731 persons present who had as
sembled to censor the dance voted in
its favor and 21 against it. The ques-
tion was upon the modesty of the tan
go. One of the leaders of high rank in
the audience wrote upon her card that
the dance was $50 modest it bored her
to tears"
Those who have tipped the tango or
who have observed it in this country,
and especially in Birmingham where
it is extremely popular in upperten-
dom, will gladly testify to the mod
esty of the dance. 1t is not boring in
any sense, no matter if the London
lady was bored to the point Of weep
ing.
All dances from prehistoric times
have developed an intimate relation
between gesture and music. And as
music is one of the divine arts, SO is
the dance accompanied by music
raised to a high artistic level. AS to
the tango, some authorities have said
it was of Mexican origin, while others
claim that it dates back to the Moor
ish dominion of Spain. 1t seems to
have been first revived at Seville at
the beginning of the eighteenth CEN
tury when strolling Bohemians danced
It without music, the rhythm being
marked only by the swapping of fin
gers and stamping of feet" 1t was
then taken up by the Andalusian
eypsies. Rhythmically the tango
music is similar in style to that of
the Habanera; but is played half as
fast again, and is worked up faster
and faster until it ends abruptly like
the conventional dances of the modern
ballet. In Spain the distinctive fea-
lures of the tango consist of har-
monious, graceful movements which
are to blend with the fascinating
rhythm of the music;" and SO we find
It in America.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
TOMORROW-TRIAL OF MARIE ANTOINETTE

sionate tangoist. but only dance 1t when
1 am entirely alone, unobserved."
Professor Gustav Eberlin, the we'll
known sculptor, says: "rhe tango is one
of the prehistoric dances which survived
from the lost Atlantis. 1t was sacri-
fetal dance of the ancient Greeks. 1 had
it danced for me in my studio by abso-
iutely perfect artists models almost
naked, and thus it was the perfection of
the human form. Then it became an
expression of indescrioable intoxication
and l made my models accordingly"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
TROUBADOUR AND JESTER
LOVE.

Love after alfs the only thing
10 US poor mortals given
Anae mar makes life worth the while. II i,
The vestibule of heaven.
AS the chaste goddess, Astrea.
Inc last to quit us mortals
win pinions swift and gracious hand
1t softly opes the portals
wherein we live and move in dreams,
All earthly cares forgetting.
lOntll we note the thinning bar
Athwart sun that's setting.
en- then the treasure is not lost,
FOR with it We may wander
ana weave anew the blessed strands
In paradise Ger yonder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
THE TRIAL OF AARON BURR

prosecution, while those who appeared
for the defendant were Luther Martin.
Edmund Randolph, John Wickham. Ben
jamin Bolts and rivaling all the rest.
Burr himself
On the jury were such men as John
Randolph and Littleton W. Tazewell,
and among the spectators were Commo-
dore Truxton, Generals Eaton and jack
son, Washington, Irving, Winfield Scott.
William B. Giles and John Taylor. Burr
was, of course, the central figure in this
master scene. The trial lasted more than
three weeks in midsummer, during which
the legal exertions and forensic talent and
power displayed on both sides were In
deed prodigious. The jury returned a
verdict that Aaron Burr is not proved
to be guilty, under the Indictment, by
any evidence submitted to us, we, there
fore, find him not guilty" The prose-
cution failed and broke down in its L..
gal proofs, and consequently the indict-
ment against the other conspirators were
never pursued.
Blennerhasset, who was Burr's chief
confederate and an Irishnan of consider
able means, found himself stripped of his
possessions, because of his having en-
barSed in this calamitous expedition He
went to England in quest or an appoint
ment to office, and to Ireland to look
after some reversionary claims, but un-
successful in both cases, and. bankrupt
and broken hearted, he removed to the
isle of Gurnsey and there died in 1881.
Burr, without friends and fortune, also
became an exile in Europe, where he lived
in extreme penury and was everywhere
stunned as feon and an outlaw. lie
was peremptorly ordered by the govern
ment of England to quit that realm be-
ing regarded as a spy, and, on going TO
France, was there kept under the closest
police surveillance. Returning after some
years of this kind of life to his native
land, he resumed the profession of the
law. but the ban of society rested upon
him. and he was as he himself expRessed
it, severed from the rest of mankind.
OF Burrs guilt in the conspiracy few
had any doubt but the outcome of the
Trial was largely in the hands of Mar
shall, and his rulings were generally IA
vorably to Burr Jefferson was deeply
disappointed in the result. He believed
that Marshall had brought the terInina-
ton of the trial about from pure dis
like for himself 1t is a strange fact that
these two great Virginans. whose men,
ory America still delights to honor were
ever valued the other at his real worth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

The grip is known throughout the world.
but in every country it has a different
name. A few of those are: In Russia.
Siberian fever; France. Spanish catarrh
and la grippe; Spain, Russian fever or
Russian influenza; Portugal, rainy fever:
Germany, sleeps disease. lightning ca
tarrh and fog plague. Those who have
had the malady have also applied various
names to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
COLLECTING INCOME TAX
m Philadelphia Press

From Philadelphia Press.
The government has not issued any new
Instructions about how to pay the income
tax for several days. But there should
be no hurry. 1T is we'll to give the people
time to learn one set of rules before
bombarding them with another set. There
is little danger that the government will
let anyone escape.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
WENT TOO FAR

From the Yale Record
Quizzer-What's the matter, old man?
You look worried.
Sizzer--I have cause to. l engaged q
man to trace my pedigree.
Quizzer-Well what's the troublef
Hasn't he been successful?
Sizzer-Successful should say he
has! I'm paying him hush money,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

We wonder if President Wilson will
pluck another ripe ultimatum from the
hothouse of the executive mansion
when he replies to this from Huerta-
Mexico, through me, has the honor of
wishing a happy New Year to the glor-
ious people so worthily representa- by
your excellence"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

Charles Dawson, the finder of the
famous Piltdown skull, has discovered
a tribe of Eskimo possessing one more
backbone than the rest of humanity
have. We may need some of these men
at our city hall before the police probe
Is finished.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

That John Lind would make a most
excellent ghost. He never has anything
to say and his visits are always re-
ported as being shrouded in mystery
Why not call him the spook of the
White House?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

Reference works on equal suffrage will
probably be in demand over the state
with SIS in cash offered to writer's On the
subject among the high school students
of the state. The Birmingham public IL
brary should be prepared.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

August Belmont was caught hunting
North Carolina game warden and had to
pay a fine of $500. Wonder what he
thnug hit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

There were no bidders in Chicago on the
subway was to have been let. What's
the matter? Chicago hasn't had any re-
cont graft crusade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

AT a New York Jail it requires a staff
of "a men to attend to less than a dozen
prisoners These must be the aristocrats
of the penitentiary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

1t is to be hoped that Jim Weatherly
Memphis mayor who marched at the head
of gang of workmen and tore up grade
crossing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

Another member of the Roosevelt
family is about to be married, and OF
course the press is taking notice The
name Roosevelt" will never leave the
headlines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Birmingham's Population

''I had letter a few days ago from
the managing editor of the New York
World Almanac, saying that the forth
coming edition will show birmingham
with an estimated population of 10000 -
said William c. Radcliffe, general secre-
tary of the Chamber of Commerce.
"Blrmingham's population in the last
almanac was estimated at 10000. Those
figures We're rather too conservative. The
estimate for the 1914 edition is also con-
servative, but no one will have cause to
complain. The census population in 1910
was 1S2,6s5. To have increased 5000 in
less than four years is doing we'll"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

The jobless in Chicago were given some
thing to do by a heavy fall of snow, but
it was not an unmixed blessing. How
about keeping warm?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

The Decatur Weekly News says that
through the plate glass window of
Grow & Crow. He must have had some
caWS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07
TELL US QUICK.

What did the sphinx tell Oedipus?
How spake the crone to Odin?
What said Lind to the President?
To know we're most eXplodin.