The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-08
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

meat for their support Whether am man has been so mean as to pocket this appropriation and leave Thomas in tn, lurch we have not yet heard, although 1. the light of present developments such 4 deplorable condition of postal affairs ii quite likely.
 The Boston Herald calls attention ts the spread of the "toyp craze amons smart society people. According to thf paper society is either enterings it's sec. ond childhood or has become so merce nary that 1t does nothing without pay. The distribution of "favors" on any and all occasions has become so universal ir the smart set that the expenses of enter taining have been greatly increased. Ir the search for something new the most costly and extravagant .favors are pur. chased for the guests and the old prac. tice of lifting" the silver has now bo. come unnecessary because things eauaily as valuable are given away. By judi. cious acceptance of invitations tn soci. ety swell who is slightly down on his uprers may work along fairly well h, disposing of favors to t.le three hall shop.
 It matters not whether the occasion is dinner, cotillon, or sewing circle. every guest receives a favor and the more elah- crate the affair the more expensive th. gifts. No hostess will endure the igno- miny of being outdone and as a result there is constant striving after soma thing new. Jewelry is much in vogue and If the society dame wishes to entertain at the summer resorts she must first purchase several thousand dollars worth of favors.
 The abject spectacle of tired humanity clinging to straps in crowded street cars and swaying about like festive puppets as the car lurches this way or that. ia never seen in Berlin. There are no straps allowed in the cars and overcrowding ia prohibited by police regulations. The number of passengers that can be carried Is posted conspicuously in every car and that number corresponds with the num- Der of seats. When all the seats are full no more persons are permitted to enter NA-o ~e'- NAA1 SA-N aS thC AdtiiDST ailOWeQ on the platform. Standing in the aisles Is unknown.
 Such an Utopian dream seems too good to be true, but nevertheless is based on fact. No doubt 1t would be the widest folly to attempt to introduce such cus- toms in this country. In the first place an American trolley car would not seem natural unless jammed with pushing, struggling humanity. and then what would ball game be with out the frantic rush for the cars, and the exquisite de- light of hanging to the rear platform with one hand while the remainder of our per- son waves in the breeze?
 Every now and then some statistican comes forward to prove just when lovely woman Is at her prime. Sometimes 1t Is 20 and sometimes 40 years of age, but all of them can prove their statements by citing numerous examples Now comes forward an expert who says that the Venus of Milo was 32 thus proving that this is the age when woman is at her greatest beauty. History reveals that during the years from 32 to 40 woman han inspired the greatest love. Cleopatra is said to have been 3S when she ensnared Mark Anthony and Helen of Troy is accredited with D years when she caused so much trouble for Paris.