The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

I nine women out of every one hundred ] wear wigs. and a woman who wears 1 wig is a slave to that article of adorn- ment" If the ladies fear to catch cold l by leaving off this abused wig it is up l to the modistes to suggest suitable substitute, or else make some regulation l that will do away with the wig forever l in theatres A wise male animal has sug- gested that the problem might be solved by posting a conspicuous notice in the I.vestibules that elderly women who fear to catch cold may keep on their hats. It is very safe to assume that the number left on could be easily counted. Mrs. Cragie, the woman who started all the trouble over wigs in theatres, suggests , that a headdress something like that of Marie Stuart might be adopted. If she could get some of the society leaders to assist her the matter would be solved. But after all 1t is remarkable how woman is afraid to take off her hat in theatre for fear of catching cold when not very long ago chip of straw or bit of feather was considered protection enough for street wear. This is a ques- tion that the bachelor might answer in his reflections.
 It is rumored in New York that war has been declared on the pie trust and lunch sellers are resolved ito fight it to the last crust" It seems that the grinding monopoly desires to raise the price while in order to protect their patrons, pro- prietors of cheap eating places have de- termined that pie must remain 31sc. They should receive hearty endorsement from their customers, it means much to the great pie eating public that the trust be coerced and driven away from it's nefarious purpose! Pie has become such an important issue in the public eye that 1t Is almost national. In fact in the pie belt itself nothing Is closer to the hearts of the people especially after 1t has been eaten. The sturdy fraus and goodmen Of Gotham have vailantly shouted the slo- gan of 31ac pie. / If their patrons hold aloof from the pastry struggle they will show themselves lacking in every manly virtue as well as all gastronomic appre- citation.
 
 Politicians talk of prosperity and the flood of wealth in this great country Of ours Yet 150 men, women, boys and girls eagerly responded to the offer of s5Oo0 for an ear to replace that lost by rich westener. This is only another illustra- of what people VII do for money Had 1t been leg or an arm, no doubt the off, fers would have been equally numerous, while such trifles as teeth grating 1esh or hair would have submerged the man who offered wealth in exchange. In fact many people would prefer to lose leg than an ear if they could thus purchase freedom from toll, since vanity prefers a mutilated limb to a mutilated face. And yet who could blame the poor and suf- fering for grasping at this tempting of fer? Such a sum as $50O0 is practical in- dependence to thousands of persons who know not the comforts of life. Then a more commendable spirit may have in- spired many of that throng who offered to sell their ears. Some may have want ed to relieve the wants of those near and dear to them. But after all it is a pitiful example of the power to which
 
 ly multlate the frame God has given them for a sum of money that would be far beneath the notice people of affluent means.
 According to medical reports neuras- thenia is increasing in the naval service Many officers are now on sick leave un- dergong treatment for the complaint. This condition of affairs is believed by experts in nervous diseases to be due to the dearth of officers in the navy, which forces those on the active list to make long tours of duty at remote stations where there is little opportunity for diver sion. Of course everyone knows what Is meant by ''neurasthena," but in order not to appear pedantic it may be said that this complaint is nervous debility super induced by and dependent upon an im- pairment in the functions of the verta- brae composing the spinal cord PC.