The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-03
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

and from an exterior view both rulers seem to be on very cordial terms. It is to be hoped that something will at last be accomplished that will put an end to the carnival of blood already continued too long.
 John Philip Sousa says that ragtime will live forever Many operas may come upon the stage charm multitudes for a few years and pass away, but the tingling melody that calls to the cakewaIk or the shufflo will hold its own as long as music is played. It may be stated that royal ties from Sousa's ragtime and march compositions aggregate a very handsome figure in the course of a year. and this may have something to do with his be- lief. For the present he may be justi- fled in making such an assertion, for 1t is indeed the age of ragtime. Straightway a host of musicians rise up to challenge the statement of the great bandmaster. They grant that operas may die but see no reason why ragtime may not follow the same example. It has been pointed out that there is no real national music in this country. Ragtime may be popular to day and pass out of the public notice to- morrow. But at any rate we see no hope that coon shouters and dispensers of rag time are in danger of losing their jobs at any time in the near future. We will have to grin and bear it until Sousas royalties begin to decrease. Then 1t may be that ragtime will make its departure. after having swept over the country from ocean to ocean.
 Since his return to Washington Presi- dent Roosevelt has been deep in con ference with Postmaster General Payne and 1t is now given out that Mir. Brs- tow has about finished his investigation of scandals in the postoffice department. His work will be concluded by October 9th and he will also have a wholesale dismissal of agents from the free de- livery service in addition to other changes, though very few cases have yet come within the scope of the law. The postoffice investigation has been the means of disclosing most startling state of affairs in our national government and was for a time a topic for conversation and theme for writers in all parts of the country
 So much space has been given to the subject by daily papers that the public has become wearied, but it is expected that fresh interest will be aroused when Mr. Bristows report is made.
 The Santa Fe railroad is breaking the record in fruit transportation this sea- son. The road expects to handle 17,0O0 cars from California and has already given an order for 800 new refrigerator cars which will be used to handle this business. Seventeen thousand car loads mean lot of fruit and when it is consid- cred that other lines lineswill also have a share of the crop 1t will will readily be seen that the Golden State intends to keep the country well supplied. The Sah- ta Fe Is one of the strongest systems in the west and has made rapid strides dur ing the past few years Yet there is plenty of expansion in that country. There are several great railroad systems that are powers in the financial world and every year marks a further ad- vance. The Union Pacific, Northern Pa cific, Santa Fe, Rock Island, Interna- tional and Great Northern, and mum Der of others are some of the best pay ing railroad properties in the United States.
 The King of Yap' really did leave 8 large fortune and his family in Savan- nah will be the beneficiaries. When the story of his career first made the rounds of the papers most people were inclined to look upon 1t with skepti- cism South Sea Islands offer too tempt- ing field for such stories and until they are proved truthful the public is wary. The career of David D. OKeefe who was the king of Tap, is a fine ex- ample of what fortune will sometimes do for her favorites, the wealth he left behind being estimated at something like $1,500O00. P C.