The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-23

sensational effusions of Le Quex are mora sought after than the masterly narratiyeA of Sir Conan or the dashing stories of Anthony Hope. This is a queer world ill literature as in many other ways anh vagaries are not surprising.
 Whether true or not 1t is said that czar Nicholas dislikes to slaughter game that has been promiseuously huddled to- gether for his benefit by drivers. This spirit reflects credit on his bearing as a sportsman and is one that could be fol- lowed by the doughty William of Ger many as well as several other European soyereigns who like to have the reputa- tion of being great Nimrods without un- dergoing danger or fatigue. There Is something essentially brutal in the spec tacle of a man coolly shooting down scores of fourfooted animals for no other purpose than to satisfy their desire to kill. Where man is a real sportsman and hunts for the excitement and pleasure to be derived he will not stoop to the methods of wholesale slaughter but wll; prefer to track the lone buck. feeling that he has earned his prize at the last stand. Such hunting is much better for the health of the huntsman and also gives the animal a fair show. a thing no true sportsman will deny his quarry At least our President knows the first principles of hunting and his ability in that line has been demonstrated.
 There was a little scare up at the Walledon-Astoria the other day when opulent guests were frightened by a diminutive blaze, that was soon extin- guished. A window curtain was burned and slight damage was done to the sill, ceiling and carpets-total, $500. Fires come high at the big hotel, and if a sure enough conflagration were to occur there Is no telling what the staggering figure would be when all the losses had been counted. Incidentally it may be stated that persons liable to lose their property in fire at the Waldorf-Astoria would no doubt be in the best condition to suf- fer such misfortune, and not many would be made bankrupts. The Waldorf is quite well known in America. We talk about it in very matter-of-fact way, but when it comes to occupying a suite of rooms there the situation is changed. We are familiar with a money strengency in America, and consequently the big hostel ry is walled off entirely from great many of us
 Over in London society $ trying to do away with formal titles in addressing per sons and ''insipid Miss" is now abhorrent to the ears of ultra persons who set the [ pace. Perhaps there is really very little use for such designations as Mir. Mrs and Miss, but they certainly do no harm, and why social leaders want to go to all the trouble of making a change is hard to e say. Perhaps clothes have become tire s. some and names equally so and 1t now becomes necessary to find some new ' methods of giving society's stamp of ap- proval. We agree with London dowagers that Mrs. is really a waste of breath wheng prefixed to the name of every married woman, but all the same a husband in this country would be surprised should he hear a gentleman of fifteen minutes acquaintance addressing his wife as Sarah or Polly That is just a little too informal. Since English society has de- cided that he who uses Miss is none other than base tradesman. we will all have to revert back to our Tom, Dick and Harry days. It would be amusing to wit ness an august assembage of Claras. Marys, Harrys. Bills and 3obs It would also be refreshing. Society is very orig inal, at any rate. and when one amuse- ment plays out there is always something else to take it's place. Such an innovation has some good points in England. where titles run riot. but as yet we have little need for it here We have the trust barons alright but they have not yet dared assume their titles openly, and in other quarters we are perhaps trifie too informal so much so that our dignity as a people has been seriously questioned in perfunctory circles of the old world.
 P. c.