The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-06
COMMENTS CULLED FROM
PAPERS HERE AND THERE

and Wilhelm but the latter has just
scored a new point which gives him the
lead by bride length. A dispatch re-
ports; Emperor William has graciously
sent to the Hohenzollern musemum, at
Berlin, small piece of bark which, as
is announced by label attached to it,
was used by him to bind the empress
arm in the absence Of medical aid when
the latter met with an accident in the
Gruenewald, on March q last, through
the falling of her horse Despite the
natural impulse of patriotism, we have
reserved an impartial attitude towards
the illustrious contestants so far, which
we wish to preserve. However, there is
no harm, we suppose, In suggesting that
there are the bandages and salves and
, things that were used when our cham
pion barked his shin year ago-and
changed his programme for a tariff re-
form spell binding tour in the west"
Many wild schemes have been originated
by so-called scientific men for reaching
the north pole by submarine route. This
is an attractive field for speculation and
has been the subject Of many fascinating
tales, but Is considered wildly impractical
BILE by marine engineers. A recent editorial
in the Marine News puts damper on the
discussion:
There are degrees In nonsense as in all
things else, but undoubtedly the most pre-
posterous nonsense of all is the constantly
reiterated report that the north pole is
to be searched for In a submarine boat.
Think of IT. There is no reservation OF
statement at ALL The announcement Is
made from Berlin that a novel polar ex-
petition is projected by two German ex-
plorers who rely upon specially con-
structed submarine boat to overcome the
difficulties hitherto encountered in reach
ing the north pole. The only thing sup
porting equanimity In viewing this state
ment Is the fact that 1t comes from Ger
many. 1t was Ingersoll who said that one
could give two German professors box
of matches and bushel of shavings and
they would be unable to start a fire. The
leaders of the expedition, it Is related,
are Herr Scholl of Munich and DR.. An
scheutz Kuempfe There is no proof
whether these are the two gentlemen In
gersoll referred to or not, but 1t would
not be surprising If they were"
At last a bride has been chosen for
Alfonso of Spain. The great matter of
state has been under consideration prac-
tically ever since the young king was
born and 1t is hard for people in this coun-
try to realize the intense interest taken
in royal marriages by the European
crowned heads and their subjects.
Alfonso has just passed his seventeenth
year and the bride-to-be Is thirteen. The
young princess is called Maria Del Pillar.
She is the daughter OF Louis Ferdinand
of Bavaria and the Infanta Paz and as
she is the first cousin of Alfonso, a papai
dispensation will have TO be obtained from
Rome before the marriage can be per-
formed.
Several years will elapse before the we'd
ding takes place, SO the princess will have
ample time to mature although marriages
in Spain take place at a very early age.
1t is said that the union is a family ar
rangement and may be called off II the
king happens to change his mind before
1906