The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-24

N URING the past month or two VJI Americans have invaded staid
 I< old London in large numbers. Evidences of their presence are seen on the streets, in boarding house rows. in the shop windows, and wherever else the active children of Uncle Sam are per mitted to wander. Since the expense of passage across the water has been reduced to a nominal sum a great tide of people in moderate circumstances are beginning to visit foreign lands, and especially England Not many years ago 1t was a sure mark of gentility and wealth to have made a trip across the water, but nowadays voyages have be- come so common that many thousands of people from all parts of the country go over to the Old World every year. One of the features of American travel Is the touring party. This Is an in- stitution distinctly national and could be conceived by none other than the fertile Yankee brain. Excursions under the direction of a competent guide are both profitable and cheap and have done much to promote travel in the countries across the water.
 The march of the Americans on the dim cathedrals, the quaint taverns. and the picturesque villages of the Old World will have beneficial effect and will im- part a freshness to the life of the peo- pie that they could acquire in no other way. For instance, London is making valiant effort to import all the Amer lean lunch counter dishes although, as yet, she has made a ludicrous failure. Then American expressions and man nerisms are beginning to creep in as a result of the march of the sightseeing Yankee.
 William Jennings Bryan as a minister Of the gospell This is the latest sug- gestion from the metropolis. At the fun eral of friend at New Haven the other day the Nebraska orator delivered a funeral oration over the grave of a friend. His remarks were a beautiful tribute and gave a glimpse of what he would have been capable of in a more religious walk of life. No doubt MT Bryan could deliver the goods" as far as words are concerned and could also keep his congregation from going to sleep, but if he achieved no more suc- cess in winning souls than he did in win hing the presidency his career in the pulpit would be a sad failure. There is more money In selling advertising space in the Commoner, anyway
 Professor Langley announces that his new aeroplane will prove of service in modern warfare-when perfected. If the machines do not behave themselves in better fashion than heretofore they will prove exceedingly valuable for this pur- pose, but the object would be to make the other side do the sailing. No one can tell. Perhaps in the course of years new branch of the navy may have to be established and a number of aerial admirals appointed to handle the ships At any rate the battles in the atmos- phere would be clean and exciting. fur nishing an entertaining spectacle to peo- pie below whose only care would be to keep out of the way of falling missiles. The war of the worlds may yet come to pass.
 To continue the topic of war, there is an element of comicalty in the mimic battles that are waged against our coasts by the joint army and navy After day of strenuous lighting the officers clothe themselves in splendid attire, have themselves rowed to the shore, and do society,"" The training received in these maneuvers is no doubt very valuable to both branches of the service. but is far from being what they would have en- countered in real warfare thirty years ago. In those days fighting was no play and all the training necessary was a stout heart and unerring aim. But now things are different. Even the Spanish American clash was hardly more dan