The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-07

JUDGING from recent events Mime. (CU Patti has lost none of her old
 power to charm. She sang at matinee In Carnegie hall Wednesday and the feminine portion of her audience could not restrain their wild desire to rush down the aisle, insanely place their el- pows on the edge of the stage, and feast thelr eyes on her person at close range. It Is said that many suffered a cruel dis allusion. Although the diva ia almost as 1ascinating as ever she has lost the greatest charm of youth and critics are also trying to find fault with her voice. It yet retains much of its sweetness. but she was unable to sing some of the old Iavorites as we'll as her hearers expect eu' but even at that, this farewell tour or Patti will be a great success and al- though she may not be able to sing as or yore she Is yet the greatest living "Va' and people are perfectly willing to pay all kinds of fancy prices in order to hear once more the trills of a once match less voice.
 It seems probable that the deplorable Dreyfus affair may be again unearthed In France Occasional press notices have something to say on the subject, while there is general interest being taken by government officials Minister of War Andre states that he thinks the sem tence of the Rennes courtmartial should be revised. He asked for the views of his colleagues. but they very wisely re- trained from making any statement. Among all the great trials of history none attracted more universal attention than that of former Captain Dreyfus. Aside from sensational evidences of government corruption was the interesting personal ity of the man, the fact that he was a Jew, and the picturesque incidents that took place during the hearing and after the conviction. Although the world has sympathised with Dreyfus in the past the subject of his woes has now become time worn and if the sentence of the Rennes courtmartial should be investigated 1t would hardly cause a ripple of excitement anywhere else than in France.
 A man named Peter Grogan, who died at Baltimore recently, is said to have been the inventor of the installment plan. According to the statement of a local biographer Grogan began selling furni- ture in Baltimore and Washington about forty years ago on regular deferred pay ments. The system became popular and rapidly, spread over this country, in course of time invading Europe also. Now come forth the paragraphers and eulo- gize MT. Grogan as the promoter of do- mesticity and the home, a stout defender of our household lares and penates. From a superficial viewpoint this man deserves much veneration in the land, but as yet nothing has been heard from those un- happy mortals who purchased a hand some suit of furniture on the install- ment plan and after grinding out pay ments for months suddenly had it taken away from them for failure to pay up, just when they were fondly looking for ward to the time when 1t would be their own in fact as well as in name Install ment is all right as long as one can pay regularly, but when one gets hard pressed for money its workings do not appear so beautiful It has even been suggested that Mr. Grogan should have a monument to his name. If 1t is possible to erect the shaft through funds paid by those who are now in the grasp of the furniture col lector, or the clothing collector, or any other collector, it would indeed be a trib- ute to the greatness of the late departed Peter Grogan.
 It is strange that people will try so hard to prove that certain men who have