The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-29

UNJR old enemy, yellow fever Is NOI cousing perturbation down about O the Texas border. Both at Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. across the line in Mexico. the disease has made alarming headway. As is natural Tn such a case the first thought of those towns not yet efTected@is self-defense and q. shotgun quarantine is now being main tained vigorously in all parts Of Texas People In this country as so accustomed to annual fever scarces that they give scant heed to reports from the south until the danger draws near. Yet no af- fiction that menaces this country is re- garded with a more wholesome fear. Ex- periences in the past have justified this state of feeling but as time passes our scientists are becoming more and more efficient in combating the disease. On the Mexican border something very near a panic now exists but an able corps Is busily at work in both towns and hope soon to stamp out the fever completely. Mexico is a constant menace to this coun- try on account of the unsanitary condi- lions that prevail in her smaller towns Her low caste population Is sadly lacking in a knowledge of hygiene and other mat ters pertaining to public health. In fact cleanliness is conspicuous by It's rarity.
 The Presidents vacation is over He will now be prepared to spend a busy winter at the capital in attending to the nations affairs. The past summer spent at Sagamore Hill has been very pleasant for Mir. Roosevelt and his health is bet ter now than six months ago. if possible. During his stay at the hill great events have. taken place in the world and most of them had an important bearing on this country. Several of these matters have not yet been disposed of and will demand the administration attention for some time to come. Although international af- fairs have presented grave issues during the past few months, MT. Roosevelt has managed to remain undisturbed In his vacation retreat. His duties have been attended to perhaps as satisfactorily as if he had been in Washington. The Pres ident announces that he will stick closely to business until June, 1904. No more tours will be considered until after that time. Much work will be accomplished before the arrival of spring.
 John Kendrick Bangs has returned from a pleasant season spent abroad. We may now expect to be favored with fresh in- stallments of his "skeletonian" humor. MT. Bangs has not being working very hard for the past few months, but has 1.t Scotland. He will now be supplied with a new stock of ideas out of which to weave some stories. Perhaps the early works of MT. Bangs are his best. His "Houseboat on the Styx' and "Mr. Bona parte of Corsica have afforded enter tainment to many readers on both sides of the Atlantic In his chosen field Mr. Bangs takes first rank but he cannot compare with Mark Twain as a producer of laughter After all the genial Mis- sourian is the greatest funny man. this country has yet produced and his suc- cessors do not show up we'll in compari- son.
 People on the great Island of Manhat- tan are now seriously considering where they will find a place to lay their heads for reasonable monthly consideration There is a scarcity of flats and renters have accordingly raised the price until families of moderate means are wondering where to turn In search of a home. Two reasons given by real estate men for this condition of affairs is the strike in the building trades and the new building law. The question of housing it's vast popula- ton has always been a problem for New York. It now seems that the only solu- tion is for the overflow of humanity to spread out Into the suburbs. thus filling up districts more desirable for residence than the close crowded blocks of the city. Flats are not very popular with the ma jority of American people and it would no doubt be good thing if New York's surplus population could be induced to move to a place where conditions are much better for both moral and physi- cal development. There will be found, the