The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-21

JUST now Prophet Dowie is the (OJ most talked about parsonage in
 0 the United States. Whether the man deserves such widespread attention as is bestowed upon him is a question that various persons answer In various ways. While his methods savor of sensational ism, the results are too apparent to be disputed. It can not be denied that Dowie is creating a profound impression In Gotham, but from present indications he will not make many converts from among the more intelligent classes. Just now, he is an object of curiosity more than any thing else, and he has failed so far to convince his audiences that he Is not fakir "Elijah IT. will have hard bat tie. Then, again, we must consider that he is a target for the darts of metropoli- tan newspaper men and this in itself is enough to give him plenty of trouble. While some of the wild stories sent out from New York are too obviously pro ducts of fertile reportorial brains, there is enough fanaticism about Madison Square meetings to give them foundation. For instance, the diamond robbery by which Mrs. Dowie was reported to have lost a jewel valued at $1500, was absurdy impossible to anyone who is conversant with the ideas of the Dowietes. Although they may be extravagant in religious en- thusiasm they are certainly not thus at fault when 1t is question of money. Just whether Dowie will make great number of 4,, e parent, but he has wonderful persever- ance and his material success has been too substantial to be overlooked. He will certainly increase the number of his flock but to what extent is hard to say
 Snobbery is one of our latter day faults, and Is very much In evidence just at present. When Washington was laboring to best the British troops, we had pride maybe, but, thank goodness, snobs were few. Now 1t Is different and the simple old soul who moulded his candles 100 years ago in Philadelphia, with little thought of the future, has now become a source of much heart-burning to those unfortunate matrons who are unable to truthfully de- signate him as an ancestor Similarly the newly rich and those who have had wealth long enough to forget just how it was first amassed also have their little ways of showing snobbishness and the latest addition to this department of our follies is "The Financial Red Book of America" If your name appears in this volume, you are indeed happy, for 1t shows that you have more dollars than many of your fellows.
 It is curious to note differences of opin- ion as to whether a circus is a benevolent institution or an evil that should be abated. Heretofore we have been accus- toned to consider such an aggregation as serving a twofold purpose of booming town and instructing its inhabitants. But here comes the Memphis Commercial Appeal with decidely different charge to make. According to that paper cir GUS Is not all 1t is claimed to be by it's enthusiastic advance agent and takes away a large sum of money from a town without leaving very much behind Such a protest Is apt to have very little weight, however. and the Memphis paper has expended money on a linotype oper- ator to very little purpose There is a circus fever in the veins of old and young. Just as long as these amusement enterprises continue to make tours just so long will American people, and for eign people also. flock to see them by thousands. The clown cuts up his same old capers, the trick mule is everlasting, and animal styles are just the same, but when the blast of steam calliope re- sounds afar then will preacher, lawyer, politician and scholar hasten out to see the parade pass. The children have al- ready been there for hours.
 Every now and then some venturesome person takes random shot at New Yorks "400," but that select coterie of fashions moths continues its dazzling