The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-24
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

1 and 1t will be a long time before the British lion will cease to gaze ruefully at the rents made in his hide.
 A young woman was strangled to death by a huge boa constructor the other day, and one more victim has been added to the list of hapless persons who take their lives in their hands for money or for notoriety. If trained wild animals were put to any useful purpose the case would be altered, but elephants alone have ever been induced to work for man. Of course we all like to see menageries and such an exhibition is instructive, but there Is no necessity for the animal trainer. He or she merely pampers to depraved taste that is never satisfied unless there is sensation or excitement. Animal train CTS are not such a bad class of people. and 1t cannot be denied that their call ing demands superior courage, but it does seem that they could devote their tall ents to more useful work However, as long as they do no harm and it is their own lives they place in jeopardy, we cannot have any objections. Every man to his own taste and his own trade.
 It is a great pity that Col. Bryan of free silver fame, will not be allowed to accept a handsome legacy of those dol lars he has studied so closely, without having litigation over the matter When Philo S. Bennett died he left beduest of $50 600 for Bryan This sum would come In very nicely to buy the commoner new linotype machines or take on little gilt edged stock but just when the orator was anticipating this prospect Mrs. Philo S. Bennett came forward and said he should not have the money. Although Col. Bryan is very dignified he evidently does not Intend to give up his prize without mak- ing a struggle and has conducted his case with some skill He may indeed plead the old excuse for his zeal that he needs the money but any merchant who has taken advertising space in his paper will hardly agree with him on this side of the question. Of course if any per son of wealth desires to give away money there is no reason why Col. Bryan should not have a share of the pelf He certain ly has worked hard enough within the last few years and probably thinks re- suits have been meagre.
 
 It is strange that a man will labor faithfully for weary years raising him self up to position of trust and honor, only to fall at the first temptation. But such cases are not rare and striking illustration was given the other day when superintendent of the foreign mail branch of the postoffice was caught rob ping letters. He had under him hundred men and so greatly was he esteemed his crime was scarcely believed. Perhaps men who are caught this way are not always the victims of sudden temptation but are such accomplished rascals that they have been able to practice fraud for many years undiscovered, This at least is more reasonable explanation. It does seem a late time of day to begin after a man has been working hard for thirty. years. But human nature is weak they say and we cannot tell when the crash will come. This frailty has become an parent among our government employees but they are not alone. It seems to us that if we were bent on making grab we would start early, when we were young and able to enjoy ourselves in case we were successful Maybe this super intendent was slow in making up his mind and thought over the matter thirty years before lacting. Tn such a case the suspense must be wearing on a man and his patience admirable.
 For the past day or two an unusual stiffness has prevailed in world affairs. We have had no massacres of moment, no volcanic eruptions, no great marine disaster, no railroad holocaust no devel- opments in the 4aastern situation, no fur ther upheavals in English politics. Even lynchings have been few and the Turk has been permitted to smoke his cigar ette or hookah in peace, while meditating new deviltry Really the old world must bestir herself or else existence will be- come monotonous. Perhaps this period of quiescence is a Hull proceeding a state ment from President Roosevelt or per- haps 1t portends the announcement of an. other candidate. P. c.