The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-05
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

extend the glad hand to visitors from Uncle Sam's domain across the water.
 For three or four weeks past 320 police men recently appointed In New York have been learning how to be cops" Their training is both exact and thor. ough, for the man who presides over a street crossing in a large town must know his business from beginning to end. This reminds us of the status of policemen in the south. In the smaller towns very few of the men are especial ly qualified for their work. and none have any training. It seems to be the desire of broken down characters about town to find a refuge on the force, and many are given places out of sheer char ity on the part of the mayor. Some of them are old and bent with age, others are sadly lacking in that physical strength so necessary in dealing with desperate offenders, and still others would not be able to hit a barn with their very conspicuous firearms. Per haps this last is a good thing, for it has no doubt saved many lives that would have been uselessly sacrificed. Of course in the larger cities the force is much more efficient, but even there very little theoretical training is required. A fa- miliarity with the town, a knowledge of criminal life and plenty of courage are the only requisites. It speaks well for the law-abiding characters of American people that the ludicrous array of coun- try constables and provincial police of- nCGrS When the crisis comes very few are found able to cope with it successfully.
 The president of the western milliners has announced that the poke" hat is an abomination and thing to be es- chewed by all women who have any re- gard for morals. In a lurid speech this very original woman denounced the pop ular style of feminine attire as sure sign of low caste. The cheaper the woman, the cheaper her morals, and the bigger her poke hat. Those 'pokes' rep resent moral crisis. As was to be cx- pected this announcement threw the milliners into confusion. There are many of the ladies who will no doubt question these broad statements, but it
 
 and even if the picturesque shovel front is abolished it will not take long to find something new equally as ex- travagant.
 The pleasant informa tion has been hand ed out that Attorney General Knox has sent his experts to probe into the Indian lands scandal It is announced that he intends to make a thorough investigation and bring the offenders to account. It is to be hoped that his new campaign against official crookedness will not re- semble his Sherlock Holmes escapades depicted by Cartoonist opper. Some of the charges are reported to be very grave" and the suspects have already begun their vigorous denials of all drplicity. It is remarkable how many "abused'' mar tyrs develop during an investigation of this kind All are justly indignant and cry to heaven for justice. In the mean time poor Lo continues to assume those delightful jags whenever he has the money. He seems to view with very little gratitude the efforts of Uncle Sam to pro- tect his wards from thievery.
 Every now and then some courageous minister, thirsting for press notices launches forth in a tirade against those foolish young American heiresses who marry for titles While they are busy talking the nobles continue 10 carry on .. the campaign with vigor and success ire quently crowns their modest efforts. Of course we all agree that the custom is absurd, a fine index of human vanity and weakness, but talk has abou; as much effect as a shower of rain. Miss May Goelet is the latest capture, while the Duke of Roxburghe is the prospective hus- band. If they are satisfied with the bar gain there is no reason why every body else should not be pleased. About the only effective way to put a stop to fortune hunting tactics is to impose a heavy im- port tax on all nobles comi into this country with the avowed purpose of 'do- ing society. In this way they would be kept out by not being able to pay the cus- toms officials. P. c.