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

IT NOW seems assured that the orig
 inal Ferris wheel the subject of so
 much wonder during the Worlds fair
 at Chicago, will be seen again in St.
 Louis next year. Workmen are busily en-
 gagged in rejuvenating the wheel prepar-
 atory to carrying it away from junk
 pile In which 1t has been resting to be
 again the wonder of many thousands.
 Since the first Ferris wheel there have
 been many copies and every little street
 carnival or state fair has boasted of
 diminutive travesty of the original. En-
 tailing an expenditure of immense sums
 and laborious toll on the part of its build
 CT, the Ferris wheel is a monument to
 modern humanity's desire for something
 new. Like the famous elephant at Coney
 Island, the Eiffel tower in Paris and
 the giant seesaw, it has served no other
 purpose than to furnish amusement, al-
 though Eiffel tower hardly deserves
 this accusation, for 1t Is not only grace
 full addition to Paris architecture but
 now serves for an astronomical observa-
 tory Such monstrosities are the play
 things of grown-up people and very ex-
 pensive toys they are One of the weak nesses of human character is an insane
 desire to get up higher. Ever since work
 was begun on the tower of Babel, peo- pie have been striving to get up into the air. Although a majority have tumbled back again. either literally or figuratively, they are not discouraged, and anything affording them an opportunity of gratify- ing this passion is sure to prove inn mensely popular. If Professor Langley could get his airship in good working or der he could make large sums by con- ducting aerial excursions. Similarly it is predicted that the old Ferris wheel, re- habilitated and set up at St. Louis, will be almost as popular with the crowds as it was in the hey day of it's fame.
 The prison congress now being held in Los Angeles Is attracting very little att tention in the United States. but never theless is a matter of moment. Anyone who has ever made an inspection of one of our great penltentiaries must have been impressed by the remarkable sys- tenn which controls one of these nstitu- tions.
 In the present assembly topics of in- terest to the entire country are being dis cussed. A problem that has long con- fronted reformers is how to correct con- victs while they are being punished for crime. So much thought has been given to the question that now all leading peni- tentiares make efforts to save men and women confined within their walls by teaching them the path to a better life. In spite of noble men and women who sacrifice their lives in this work it has not been remarkably successful It is hard to counteract the evil influences of per- haps ten or fifteen hours of prison asso- citation by a half hour of religious ser- vice. It is almost impossible to give con- victs enough spiritual advice because they are removed from it's influence the greater part of the day in shops and other places where they are compelled to work. However, the industrial side of their training has reached high state of development, and many are taught useful trades so that when their terms expire they are encouraged to begin life over again. Congenial employment is the greatest boon that can be granted un- destined to spend years or a lifetime behind prison bars.
 Apropos of recent speed trials that have been witnessed on our American race tracks, they would have been much more had there been several horses instead of one. Although great crowds were sufficiently excited to howl and wave their hats at every turn, speed trials lack the intense interest and picturesque features of a competitive race. No con- test against a watch can be so inspiring as a hard fought battle between two to come under the wire first. Our modern racing has become a science and some of it's best features have been obliterated by a desire to lower records. If turfmen would abolish wind shields and pace makers, the speed trials and other inno- vations, and let horses race as they once did in old Kentucky the sport would be vastly improved Lou Dillon, Major Del mar and Dan Patch have participated in quite number of speed trials during the past six months. Although their exhibi tions wer magnificent we cannot but think how much more interesting they would have been had there been several horses instead of one.
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