The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-12
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

home with riches means something to the man who bets s1O,0OO that certain vessel will reach harbor in safety.
 Andrew Carnegie will receive general endorsement in his efforts to purchase the historic battlefield of Bannockburn, near Stirling, Scotland, in order to save it from the hands of builders It was at Ban nockburn June 24. 1874 that the Scots. under Bruce, defeated the English led by King Edward II. The battlefield has been immortalized in song and story until it would be held desecration to cover the sacred ground with buildings. Robert Burns and all those true lovers of Bonny Scotland now departed would not be dis turbed in their graves if the rescue of Bannockburn were accomplished with American made gold.
 From present indications the art display at the St. Louis exposition will be on a very elaborate scale. Noted painters and sculptors are busily engaged in adorning the buildings and grounds while contribu- tions for the art palace are arriving in sufficient numbers to betoken a magnif- cent collection of masterpieces. About 100 works of art have come to America from the International Society of Sculp- tors, Painters and Gravers, which will be exhibited at the fair. The collection will be placed on exhibition in the principal cities of the country before being sent to St. Louis. Not only will the art features of the fair be a great attraction to visit ors, but it seems that we are going to be treated to one of the greatest universal expostions ever yet held in the world. The preparations are certainly extensive enough to justify this statement It Is also probable that more people will go to St. Louis next year than have ever before attended fair in this country.
 The city council of Houston, Tex. has taken active steps to root out the end seat hog That progressive body of prom inent citizens has passed an ordinance providing that the person who pre-empts the end seat on a street car and refuses to move along for others shall be punish- ed by heavy fine. Such municipal legis- lation is certainly radical, and also some thing of a novelty but it Is pointed out
 
 nance can appeal his case to a higher court and escape. No tribunal will up- hold the sentence because the man who pays his fare is entitled to the first seat he succeeds in occupying. courtesy to the contrary notwithstanding No city council can get around this fact, which is one of the established decrees Inas- much as there are no reserved seats on a street car and the end seat hog Is not required to purchase his privilege by an additional fare he will remain undisturb- ed, by municipal laws
 A Mckinley memorial statue will be unveiled at Adams, Mass, October 5. This monument is one of the first to be erected to the lamented president and was purchased through subscriptions. In va- rious parts of the country the movement to remember William Mckinley by suit able memorials is gaining ground and everywhere the promoters are meeting with gratifying success.
 Radium is the latest marvel of science but it's power over the average mind is measured by Its priceless value. Most people are interested in the remarkable discovery but when they are told that the tiny specimen before them is worth about one million dollars a pound lis im- portance in their estimations is vastly in- creased Radium itself should awaken intense interest among all classes of peo- pie but so mercenery have we become that its commercial value appeals to our im- aginations more than it's scientific possi- billties. We cannot help wishing that we had monopoly of the worlds radium supply. P. c.