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Plays Important Part in Progress EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN {Atmospheric Conditions Have Changed Destiny of Entire Nations—Rain storm Helped Preserve Amer ican Independence The weather—especially bad weath er—has made a lot of history, and Las had an influence, for good or bad. on much that it did not make outright. The weather in its worst moods becomes historic Itself, of course, when its be havior becomes so violet that great storms destory cities, sink ships or de vasttes extensive areas of country. Fut in less strenuous temper it has had an important part in effecting the progress of human affairs, says the Kansas City £tar. Every student of American history knows that high winds and rough seas drive the Pilgrim fathers to make a landing and establish themselves on the coast of Massachusetts, when their original intention had been to form a colony somewhere near the mouth of the Hudson river—a change that might have had a notable effect on early his tory in tills country. Three months of stormy weatheV so discouraged Oapr. John Smith that lie abandoned one of his colonization schemes, and that, too, may have had to do with changing the map of the new North America. The first winter experienced by the Pil grims at Plymouth, Mass., tested the hardihood of the sturdy Puritans to the utmost; had the easygoing Virginia col onists been blown upon such an un friendly- shore, it is doubtful if any Would have survived. One of the more remarkable incidents of the weather's Interference with the progress of historic events is hinted at in the early war records of this gov ernment, where there is data to show that a rainstorm may have been the means once of preserving American in dependence. The big rain occurred near the end of the siege of Boston, early in March, 177<k Tlie English, under General Howe, oc cupied Boston, and the American forces were maintaining a blockade around the $ity. Following the battle of Bunker Hill and General Washington's assumption of supreme command of the Continental army, in the summer of 177s, the block ade remained in effect throughout the fall and winter. Early In the following March, the 4th, to be exact, General Washington sent General 1 homas with about 2000 men to establish fortifications on Dorchester Heights, a position jus* outside Boston that. If succesr fully main tained. would give the American gunners command over the city and the adjacent harbor. The night of March 4, which was a Monday, is described as "remark ably mild,'* though the grouna was frozen to a depth of 18 inches. A fog hung over the town and the lowlands, which, blend ing with the smoke from cannonading that had been kept up through the day, shut the outside world off from the Eng I liah troops, while a full noon lighted the activities of the Continental troops on Dorchester Heights. The -*merlcans were unable to excavate the frozen ground in building their fortifications so the only result of the nights' labors were make shift defenses of wood, but these ap* peared dangerously formidable to the English general, Howe, and his troops when the sun disclosed them Tuesday morning. Realizing that Boston would be unten- ! abl^once the Americans had established their cannon on the heights, Howe pre pared to drive them from Dorchester. He sent 3000 men in transports, the instruc tions being to circle the promontory where the Continental^ were at work and at tack them from the rear early Wednes day maiming. The English force out numbered' the Americans tnree to two they were better Armed and equipped, and had Howe's orders been carried out the Continental army might have suf fered a defeat that would have greatly prolonged, if not reversed, the outcome of the Revolution. But on Tuesday afternoon, after the transports bearing the British had set out! the weather interfered. A furious wind sprang up, throwing three of the transports on an island shore, and by night there was raging a “rank storm," as a British officer expressed it. Rain fell in torrents, and as night came on the gale increased. All night the winds roared and the rain poured down, and when morning came the storm seemed to increase in intensity. The Americans on the heights, half drowned and in no condition to make a vigorous defense if attached, continued their work jf fort building in the downpour, while the British "stood off" the Dorchester shore, helplessly watching the proceed ings and waiting in vain for the ele ments to subside sufficiently for them to make a landing. Eventually—that is, Wednesday night —the storm died down, but the British opportunity was gone. The English forces were soaked and half frozen, their ammunition was decidedly damp and they were feeling anything but Warlike. Meanwhile the continental forces had strengthened their fortifica tions until they were ready to receive company, and the chilly General Howe decided that he did not care to attack, even with a much superior force. In stead. the British troops returned to Boston. And 11 days later, on March 17. they found their quarters there, too, uncomfortable and evacuated the city. Peeling Onions for a Living From Tit-Bit h. ' The profession of onion peeling is not one that obtains much notice, yet there are at least 600 women in the Eastend of London earning their liv ing by removing the skins of onions. With practice, they can make 4s or 5s per day. Veryoften they have been peeling since childhood, daughters sue ceeding mothers. It is not a profession you can learn in one lesson, for the skin must be re moved by hand, or the onion “juices' and is no use for pickling. The onions are always peeled In water. This is not to save the eyes of the peeler, but is done to keep the onion white. Too Sentimental First Winter Sport (looking at a mag nificent view of the Alps)—Not bad, that. Second Winter Sport—Yes; it's ail right; but you needn’t rave about it like a bally poet. (Advertisement) “I would not convict a yellow dog on such evidence,” Said Judge A. 0. Lane during the famous fake police probe at which Bodeker was fired from his job. UiiO. H. BODEKER EFFICIENCY AND EXPERIENCE VOTE FOR HIM r —-— (Advertisement) r __ H. P. HEFLIN for Solicitor To the Democrats of Jefferson County: The reports that 1 am receiving from all over the county are very gratifying to me. The bitter and unfair fight that has been made against me has failed of its purpose. No'man ever had with him in a political campaign better men and truer friends than the men who are standing by me in this fight. Doctors, lawyers, preachers, merchants, mechan ics, miners and farmers—men who earn their living by the sweat of their faces—good men in evgry walk of life are supporting me, because I have dared to prosecute the big criminals, and have never failed to show mercy to the poor and unfortunate, dragged into court on frivolous offenses, by the fee-grabbing officers of the county. I am grateful to every man who honored me with his vote four years ago, and I am grateful to those who did not support me then, but who have given me kindly assurances of support in the primary election today; and I say to all, that if re-elected, as I believe I will be, I shall continue to faithfully, impartially and fearlessly discharge my duties in the enforcement of the wiminal law in Jefferson county. Yours sincerely, H. P. HEFLIN. \ . HOW THE PRESIDENTS DAI GHTrat WALL APPEAR IN PARI OF HER CHOICE SELECTION OF HER WEDDING TROUSSEAU _ __ __. • - — — ■ liisv ELEANOR WILSON AS SHE WIU APPEAR IN A WHITE CREPE AND NET EVENING DREJ5 AND AFTERNOON nS^S OF GOLD AND CREPE DE CHINE ; PURCHASED FROM J. M. GI DOING AND CO. A5 PART OF HER WEDDING TROUSSEAU ©*/» k.v.mkavo co The accompanying picture shows how Miss Hleanor Wilson, the President's daughter, who Is soon to bo married to William G. McAdoo, the Secretary of the Treasury, will appear in part of her wedding trousseau. It shows her In a blue dress and one of all white, which she purchased from J. M. GIddiug when she was trousseau shopping in New York. The dresses are quite simple in design. One is a blue dress of an unusual style and is intended for the after noon. Both the tunic and the Jacket baek of the blouse are cut in fish tall points. The material Is erepe de Chine, In an exquisite old blue shade, with a collar and belt of gold colored crepe. The other Is a simple evening dross. This is of ivory white crepe de Chine and silk net. the combination of net and silk being considered one of the fads of the season. LATE NEWS AND GOSSIP OF THE LONDON STAGE Ily JOHN AVA CARPENTKR Ijondon, April 6.—(Special.)—Henry Ar- i thur Jones is looking upon the world with a more cheerful countenance these I days. On May &1 there is to be a great gala performance of “The Silver King,’' with E. S. Willard emerging from his re tirement to take his old part. Royalty will be present, and it is a current report that, on this occasion, the principal au thor of the play will become Sir Henry, taking his place beside Sir Arthur Finero and Sir James Barrie. If the report isn’t well founded it ought to be, for, after ail, Henry Arthur Jones has worked as hard as any man living for the British drama, and has even gone so far as to make sacrifices now and then for his ideais. Maybe a knighthood would take the edge off the rather cruel cynicism and even bit terness of some of his later plays, and prompt him to write another “Silver King,'1 or another “Middle Man." Not only is “The Silver King" to be “galafied,’’ but it is also to be novelized to the benelit of Jones, the late Henry Herman, and the Wilson Barrett estate. Many publishers have realized what a good novel play would make, and various schemes have been on, but fell through j owing to the difficulty of getting the va rious parties interested to agree. On top of this the film rights of the play have been sold at big figures, and probably j the Aim will be put on the market be-, fore summer all over the world, and thu»-j give another striking indication of how j many ways there are to turn a piece of J work to account, if It is really above the average, and for how long a time it an be, made a source of revenue. The Jones revival of luck doesn’t stop here either, for in the last few weeks he has signed fat contracts for the Aiming of four other of his plays, thus leading the way for Pinero and Barrie, who have not yet gone into film deals—probably for the rea son that they had been led to expect im possible prices. Although the beauteous Martha Hed rmtn does not really fit Sutro's new com edy, “The Two Virtues,” Sir George Alex ander, on tho other hand, linds in the play a better part for himself than any thing he has had since “The Importance of Being Earnest” and the play has set tled down for a comfortable run. The American rights of it has been bought by Winthrop Ames and Lee Shubert. £u tro is now rehearsing another comedy with which Gerald du Maurier will follow “Diplomacy,” if the revival of that piece ever comes to an end. The 450th perform ance was passed some time ago, and the pit and gallery queue still block the side walks around Wyndh&m’s theatre night ly. It is said that Gerald du Maurier’a next venture after the Sutro comedy will be a revival of “Raffles,” by E. W. Horauhg and Eugene Presbrey. Mean while “Raffles” has been going steadily in the country towns, and was lately re- j vived with much success in Paris. Elsie Janis, who has arrived in town for rehearsals of the new revue, “The Passing Show,” soon to be put on at the Palace, has already won the hearts of several critics who have called upon her, by her engaging modesty and simplicity. She has sensibly decided that if she does not make good immediately she will, like Monroe and Fisher, after the former fell flat In “Hullo Tango!” silently fold her tent and steal away. Only she and Al fred Butt know the salary the latter is paying for the services of little Elsie, but it must be a staggerer. Stars like Elsie Janis are not leaving the United States for London nowadays for & shoestring. There has just died in London one of the strangest figures that ever graced the theatrical profession. For two genera tions W. H. C. Nation, a stepbrother of the mother of those two splendid ac tresses, Irene and Violet Vanbrugh, lias been running theatrical seasons at various of the West End theatres a, a loss. A man of Independent means, managem* ist, became a hobby with him, and although he had little or no Idea of what the puhlla wanted—and, Indeed, cared less—he per- i slsted In' the expenslxe business of rent ing large theatres and putting on strange combinations of short musical comedies or burlesques and so-called dramas. Many of these were written by himself and all of them were rehearsed and di rected by him. Although the public never patronized his box ofTIces he at times enjoyed con siderable luck in giving away enough tickets to till a few of the seats of lhe, various theatres run by him and In this I way ha seemed to Jolly himself Into a state of satisfaction. Night after night ; he would sit in the wings and applaud his own songs or his own dialogue, while a cynical audience Jeered. His seasons lasted about eight weeks and usually came in the rfummer time when business among the theatres was slack. Nation once told the writer that although his losses ran into ^raething like $10,00© a year, he did not mind a bit and that lie would gladly take a theatre for a much longer term if they were not needed by other managers. Under the management of George Gros emith and Edward LAUdlllard, the latter of whom up to the present time lias been known chleflly as a capitalist interested in moving picture houses, "Potash and Peremutter," Montague Glass’s comedy, is to open at the Queen's theatre on April 14. The Queen’s theatre is coming to be known as an "American" house, for it was there that "Get-Rlch-Quiok Wal lingford," "XJie Fortune Hunter" and "The Melting Pot" were presented all within the past 12 months. The last named play, by the way, moves over to the Comedy theatre to make way for the new show’. Putting Glass’s comedy of Jewish life, with its unique American atmosphere and conditions, on n London ia an interesting and courageous experment. A1 though here we have "a cloak and suit trade" al most entirely in the hands of the Jewish population, it Is buried away in the East End and forms no part of the general life of the city. Not one theatregoer in 10,000 ts familiar with any phaze of its life and not one in 6000 even realizes that it ex ists at all. A three-act comedy, to be kndwn as "Tilings We’d Liko to Know," a title, by the way, borrowed from the heading to a series of asinine questions in a local penny weekly publication of large circu lation, but no standing—is scheduled to succeed almost immediately W. H. Post’s play, "Never Say Die," which has had a good run at the Apollo theatre with Charles Hawftrey in the titl.e hole. Haw trey lias had very good luck at the Ap ollo, where he is In partnership with Tom Davis, who some years ago made an equally good thing out of the Lyric, next door, with Lewis Waller as the attrac tion. On * Business Footing Out In California the Rev. Dr. Aked, late of Liverpool, Ib In trouble over some of hla too liberal •pinionH, says Pearsdn's Weekly. Dr. Aked Ib always very outspoken, and not very long ago he shocked many people by declaring that there was such a thing ns too much seal in religious matters. “Neither with the heathen nor with our own people," he told ub. "does It do to advocate religion on mercenary grounds. For instance, I knpw a manu facturer who last Easter told all his hands that he would pay them If they went to church. The hands all agreed, and a fine show they made. The man ufacturer, scanning their ranks from his pew, swelled with Joy and pride. "But after the service one of the foremen approached him. " ‘Excuse me, sir,' he said, ‘but the fellows want me to ask you. If they come to church again tonight, do they get overtime?’" Another of Dr. Aked’s stories Is about an eeeentrie American who. wanting to get married In a hurry, ar rived with his Intended bride outside a clergyman's house after midnight and Insisted on being married on the spot. Very unwillingly the clergyman got out of bed. and having roused some members of his household to act as witnesses, he proceeded to tie the nup tial knot. Things went smoothly enough till he asked the American: “Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife “ The American stared at him in as tonishment. "Say. boss, what d’ye s'poBe I yanked ‘vou out o' bed at this hour o’ night I tor*’ On mnd On _ Prom the Cleveland Plain eDaler. 6ne of chose dramatic critics in Chi cago has this to say concerning the re cent performance of a musical comedy: “Sometime * the rush of laughter comes with a kind of aviation which teems with contagious strength and youth, and all the time the lellghtful entertaining goes on and on ani on with no cessation or la*” v "Yes, and how did they succeedin stop ping ur \ Hold Your Umbrella Up From the New York Sun. ‘‘There are a great many persons In jured on windy, rainy nights because they hold their umbrellas down in order to protect their faces from the driving rain,” explained an ambulance surgeon. "In their desire to protect themselves from the rain they place themselves in grave danger of being struck and run over by surface cars, automobiles and other ve hicles. "If you wish proof of rny assertion just stand in a doorway some night where you are protected from the rain and where , you are in a position to see an expanse of thoroughfare which all kinds of ve hicles use. You will be surprised at the large number of persons you will notice crossing the thoroughfare with their um brellas held down so far that it is Impos sible for them to see anything approach ing. They seem oblivious of danger, and a spectator would suppose from their ac tions that there was not the remotest chance of an accident occurring. "It is a fact that many pedestrians are Injured on windy, rainy nights. With their umbrellas pulled down so that It is Im possible to see ahead or to the sides, the pedestrians walk in front of vehicles and are knocked down and injured before they realize what has happened." Jones’ Gift From the Florida Ttmes-Unlon. "I asked my friend Jones, wrho works for a typewriter company, to send me a cover for my typewriter.” "Did he send it?” "Yes; he sent mo an automobile coat with the words, 'To be worn over a peekaboo waist.' " { (Advertisement) Mr. Voter! Do You Want Batson for Sheriff ? The Birmingham News says editorially he will be, with Lee a CLOSE SECOND GUS LEE For your information, I have had on file in my office for 30 days the signed pledges of 4372 regis tered voters who are loyally working for me and will vote for me. I will win this race—Have gained tremen dously during the past 10 days. It’s up to you. Which will you have, Lee or Batson? VOTE FOR GUS LEE! I - - - I PLACE IN VENICE May Eventually Oust Gon dolas, But Not Soon SPEED NOT DESIRED Only American Tourists Who “Do” | Venice in Day or So Are in a Hurry—Passing of Gondola Would He Irretrievable Ah the hansom cab was the gondola of Dondon, so la the gondola the hansom cab of Venice, and as the hansom cab has undergone extinction, so, It Is thought, may the gondola, says a writer In the London Doily Nows. Us rival— and inaybu successor la the motorboat, which Is to be seen on the canals In In creasing numbers. It was, I think, De Musset who said; that the secret of the subtle charm of j Venicu is only to be discovered by him j who lies in happy idleness In the black ! cabin of a gondola, slowly paddling along ! the silvery canals on a midsummer night. } De Musset, of course, knew all there! was to know about the fascinations of the Queen of the Adriatic, and his romantic excursions in luxurious gondolas are still a tradition amongst the Venetian popu lace. One may rest assured, therefore, al though the passing of the gondola Is predicted to bo at hand, that the hour is yet Jar off. Were it true, Venice would 1 suffer nn irretrievable loss; the loss of Its peculiar, old-world atmosphere, which | seems to breathe on the foreign visitor j an Irresistible invitation to a restful and j careless laslness. The slow', rhythmical, , methodical gondolier, never in a hurry to t get anywhere and always ready to ox- I pond on the beauties of his native laguna, j would disappear forever. Opposition of the Motorboat Ami wUut, would take his place if tlu» gondola succumbs to the motorboat? A greasy, hustling and mater-of-fact chauf feur, who would rouse with his sacrllegi ous hooting indignant echoes among tho historical palazzi, who would fill with tho smell of gasoline the sleepy canals where, from the fronts of tho old houses. Jasmin and. roses stretch dowu to tho water edge. It is true, indeed, that an increasing number of motor boats have lately been seen in the laguna, and there is reason to believe that a fewr more will soon be carrying on a vain and unequal compe tition with the gondola. Yet Venetians, who strongly deprecate this attempt to rob their city of one of its charms, are not ffboatly concerned. They ilrmly be lieve that, at Venice at any rate, mere opeed has not a serious chance against picturesqueness ami beauty. As far back, as 18*0 the municipality in troduced a service of Omnibus-steamers between Venice anti tho Lido. Although there were protests, tho service remains today. For American tourists who wish to "do" tho town in a day or so gon dolas, of course, are too slow. Hut tho motor boats, as well as their occupants, are out of place. Nothing is more ludi crous than the sight of a motor boat spluttering through tho old tall! (canals), where every stone, mirrored by the as yet unruffled water, reo&ls to the sympa thetic mind memories of days long gone by. But, then, Americans, when touring Europe, seldom have time fer memories. Scorned by Venetians • Venetians, with the feeling for beauty of which their hotelkeepers lacked, re sented the appearance of motor boats by tho plo.zza of San Marco, and pelted thorn with stones and rotten fish and fruit as a protest. The mayor, Fount GrUnanl, who was urged to reinstate the old " ’buses” (gondolas seating up to 12 peo ple), was powerless against the hotel keepers, who cared little about tho dese cration of the ancient waters, hut much about the exploitation of the foreign vis itor. It Is the latter who uses the motor boat, a Venetian being seldom seen in one. A small syndicate has now been formed to build a new tleet of motor boats. It ought to be understood, however, that those are only to ply between Venice and the neighboring islands of la. Giudeccu and Murano and the IJdo. FWim Venice itself the gondola never will disappear, because of the mazing net of narrow canals, mostly unknown to tourists, in the interior of the town, which could not be navigated without extreme danger by swift.et vesselii. The Electric Light It may be Conceded that motor bouts have come to stay, as the electric light ha* come and tarried. There were hor rllied protests when it was installed a few years hack along the embankments. It was theu said that the glare of the arc lamps would dissolve the mysterious en chantment of the Venetian nights. Of course, electric light has not destroyed the poetry of the night. It has even sub served a humanitarian purpose In being the means of saving roystorers from drowning, as many wore drowned who fell, in the old days, In the dark canals while groping their way home. But to meet the wishes of the minority opposed to electrie lighting It was arranged that the old gas lamps alone would bo lighted on Wednesday night, and the arrange ment is still In force, 't he result Is that or every Wednesday night there Is not a gondola In the Laguna but carries a pair of happy lovers, and there is not a pretty girl In Venice to be found at home. News of Ensley Funeral services over the remains of W. R. Hornsby, who diet! yesterday morning about 7 o’clock at the Cun ningham infirmary from the result of being badly burned at the steel plant , on Saturday a week ago will be held from the family residence on Resale j avenue this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock* Interment In the Oakland cemetery* He Is survived by his wife and two I children. Mr. Hornsby was seriously | burned and otherwise Injured at the steel plant on Saturday, March 28, by a premature shot while engaged In blasting slag at the slag pit of the Ensley furnace. He was badly burned about the face and body and was taken to the Cunningham hospital, where it was thought that he had a chuitce to recover but on Saturday morning he took a turn for the worse and died yesterday morning Ho was a prom inent member of .Steel City lodge No. 15ft,* Woodmen of the World, which will have charge of the funeral services. The First Italian Presbyterian church of this city was organized yesterday afternoon with the Rev. Angelo Mastro* to as pastor. About four years ago aft Italian mission was established on Ave nue I and Seventeenth street with a very small membership hut from time to time It had steadily grown until now It has about 4ft members In the Sunday school ami about 50 members of the congregation. The committee of the Northern Alabama presbytery or ganized the church. The following members were on the committee: Rev H. C. Keyley. Rev T. P Hay. Rev. •T. A. Bryant. Judge S. D. Weakley, and W. G Montgomery. At the organiza tion G. D. Giacomo was elected elder and (lulseppc Beminnto was elected deacon. The Qak Avenue City Beautiful club will meet on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock with Mrs. William Zlnu. All committee chairmen aro requested to be present. At the meeting reports from the different clubs will he heard and further plans will be made. AU ladles residing in that district who are In terested In this movement are Invited to he present. A large number of the Ensley and Pratt City lodges of the Woodmen of the World attended the unveiling of J. T. Camp’s monument at the Forest Hill cemetery yesterday afternoon. I’iorre Loti's Discovery From the New York Sun. It is not generally known that Mme. Edmond Adam Introduced Pierre Loti to the public. One afternoon in 1S8Q the editor of l.a Nouvelle Revue dropped! in at the publish ing house of* Paul Caiman n-L*»vy and while rumpmglng through the newspapers on a table said: 'Haven’t you anything new? Just now I have no novel that T think would please my subscribers. Can't you find me a white blackbird?" Paul Caiman n-Levy picked up a man uscript entitled "Aalyade" that bad just been received fro nit he provinces. "By whom Is it?" asked Mme. Adam. “A naval officer, l believe, who wishes to keep his identity a secret." the publish er replied. Mme. Edmond Adam skimmed through several chapters and exclaimed: "But this la delightful; may I have it?" And shortly afterward there appeared In the Revue the first work of the writer who later signed himself Pierre I^otl. "IjO Murtage de Loti," which followed, was a revelation. The author described his own adventures under the romantic skies of Tahiti. All Paris went mad about Rarahu, the Httlcs avago, who in the de spair of unrequited love, cut off her own I hand. Loti was famous!