The age-herald., 1901-05-05

ply lot of reckless daredevil fellows who are seekers after notoriety regard less of consequences
 ''The first snake man in this country I had about three years ago." said Mr. Gaskell. He was an Australian, and his little show actually took in s2sO0 in one weeks performance at a street fair in Rochester, N. Y. In other words, 2s,0Oo people actually witnessed this perform ance during that week.
 Speaking of show towns" said Mir Gaskeli. Birmingham is the best town In America for it's size. In my three years experience have never known any place or It's population where so many people visited show and where so much money was spent. And the remarkable part of 1t Is that with ten to fifteen thousand people in the street fair each day this week. there has not been a single fight or disturbance of any kind. I consider the record Birmingham has made the most remarkable have ever known"
 This latter statement of MT. Gaskell means a great deal. It means that the people of Birmingham are prosperous. People who are prosperous are always good-natured and generous They seek amusements and enjoy them.
 
 The whole country seems prosperous. There was a little downward furry in the stock market Friday. but yesterday all losses were recovered, and the best T-t-~ onA cially from Wall street. expressed yes- terday, was to the effect that stocks as well as cotton and grain were going higher.
 Money is easy in this country and in- terest rates are lower than at any time in the history of the present generation. Millions upon millions are seeking in- vestment In all sections of the country. There are men in Birmingham today from the North and West who are seek ing opportunity to invest several million dollars in the Birmingham district. I was talking with man from New York only a few days ago who is seeking an oppor- tunity to make an investment here which will mean the expenditure of fully $2,00O,- 900 within the city of Birmingham and will mean the employment of more than one thousand men at good wages.
 And again there is talk of office build ings. Two valuable pieces of property, both on First avenue, are now under op- tion to two different parties. both of whom are figuring on office buildings of more than ten stories in height, and both parties tell me they are confident of suc- cess.
 the people cease to talk politics. MT. Bryan has given out several interviews to the press recently, and so have other politicians of national prominence in both parties. While the newspapers print them they do not make them conspicuous and the public at large apparently takes but little interest in the utterances of any politician, however important he may think himself.
 l have been a bit surprised to read MT. Bryan's recent articles on political mat ters in which he continues to speak of greedy corporations and to attack them. As matter of fact, the corporations are making the South what 1t is today com- l mercially and industrially. Corporations are simply combinations of individuals to invest their wealth jointly. This wealth Is entitled to just as much legislative | and other protection as is the wealth of a single individual.
 The sooner our Democratic leaders stop