The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-25


 NH/k the American people earn more
 money and spend more money than any other people in the world. Stu dents of economics do not doubt this statement, for 1t has been a source of pride to people in this country for the last half century or so that it is possible for them to spend large sums in the pur- suit of pleasure or the qualification of desires. It shows that we are more capa- ble of amassing wealth than people in other countries. He who wins his riches honestly by the sweat of his brow or by his own ingenuity is certainly entitled to have the pleasure of spending them. The liberality with which we throw. money around in the old world has evoked great admiration and even in America the easy fashions Of our millionaires have caused remarks. Although we may sometimes be guilty of extravaganza it cannot be denied that much of the money spent every year is devoted to some good pur- pose and even when 1t is simply .'blown in' there are great number of people who reap the benefit. Our fads and fol- lies give support to certain classes of tradesmen and artisans. After all, it is not such a bad plan to spend our money It is generally conceded that wealth will do us very little good after we make our departure from this world and it is al-
 ways best to take time by the forelock,
 in accordance with the shining example
 of MT. Andrew Carnegie.
 At last the reaction has come and now reckless drivers are running down auto mobiles. It is strange that this mode of self defense was not thought of before. Of course it is very apt to prove disas- trous to a driver and his wagon most Of the time, but 1t will also wreck the auto- mobile, and that is some satisfaction. If the vehicle is a light trap or buggy it would be foolhardy to buck against a big "kller,'' but a double truck might do very well h such a contest. The plan has already been tried in Maryland, but the opponents were not evenly matched, and as a result the finish was not de- cisive. Speaking of automobiles, reminds us of the fact that there have been no serious accidents now for several weeks and it really seems that the sport is be- coming less dangerous. Perhaps this is an indication of more caution on the part of chauffeurs or more vigilance on the part of country constables in enforcing ordinances against high speed. If this good record continues it will do much to increase respect for the automobile
 For many years clever articles bearing the signature of M. Quad have appeared in papers in all parts of the country. The doings of MT. Bowser and his estimable wife, of the Limekiln club. and of those picturesque western gentlemen with more originality than polish have delighted thousands of readers. Their author, c. B. Lewis. has been connected with the Detroit Free Press for a third of a centu- " and his humor has made that paper famous. MT. Lewis has no pretensons to higher literature but contents himself with short articles for newspapers, which he writes in his spare moments as a recre- alton from his daily grind His stories are clever and his humor Is contagious but the modesty of their genial writer has kept him very much in the background. Very few people know anything of his interesting personality. His career calls attention to great number of brilliant men in the journalistic world whose tall ent in certain lines of work has made them known in every part of the United States Yet they never become anything more than newspaper toilers and when they die there is new brigade ready to take their places at first glance. It seems that many men of talent throw their bright thoughts away in this manner and reap no reward but they have the satis- faction of knowing that their work has given instruction or entertainment to thousands of people and this is all the vast majority of newspaper workers ask
 It was in 1861 that Adelina Patti found herself suddenly famous and during the years since that time her name has been a byword in the musical world. One night she sang at Convent Garden in London in a production of La Somnambula" What her salary was at that time is mod estly kept secret but the next morning she