The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-23
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD
turbed and the amount of tobacco annual ly consumed is enormous.

turbed and the amount of tobacco annual ly consumed is enormous.
 It is a curious state of affairs that fire men always display reckless disregard of human life on the streets when hurrying to save persons from being burned up in some building. Stray dogs. stray pedestri- ans, and everything else that gets in the way of the flying engines and wagons, is in eminent danger of being run over It is also true that these men are not care full of their own safety, but there is no excuse for running over half a dozen peo- pie in order to make record time in put ing out $250 house. Of course the people should have sense enough to get out of the way and it would seem that the changing of bells would be sufficient warning but there are many and varied noises in town and when a huge engine comes sweeping around a corner in a crowded thorough fare a person is excusable for being caught mapping.
 Another Gentleman" burglar has been caught. This time the ingenious rascal carried on his operations by swinging down from the roof by an open window on his rope ladder and quietly stepping inside He had taste for articles that were elegant as well as valuable, and "patronized'' only the rich. George Rob. inson lived like prince and his apart ments were those of a cultured man. We are finding so many gentleman" and lady robbers of men these days that { cidedly elevated above the crude methods of early highwaymen Perhaps in the course of time the operations of the man who is successful thief in a small way will be classed with those of the man who robs banks systematically and be- comes a leading citizen of his home town. There are wonderful possibilities inJthe profession and people of genuine talent are meeting with deserved suc- cess. Unfortunately quite number of them manage to get within the tolls of the law sometime during their careers and their finished methods are disclosed to less capable members of the cult who can profit by them immensely.
 Those insane persons who think to reap notoriety from jumping into East river or walking a wire over Niagara falls, have recently had an addition to their number in the person of one Genister who announced that he would brave the terrors of the rapids. The man claims he successfully accomplished the danger ous feat but, thanks to the irony of hu- man fate, no one believes him. In order to escape the attentions of the police he was forced to take his swim in the early hours of morning and there were few witnesses. In few words he accepted hundred to one shot against life and has won neither fame nor fortune. He would probably have hard time in get ting an engagement in a museum at $15 per week, for pretenders can be easily found. If Glenister really did swim the rapids of Niagara he deserves the noto- riety that has come to his predecessors in such attempts. but his thirst for ac- clamation in the land seems to have come to naught.
 Two of England's great men are at- tracing widespread attention just now in this country. Lord Salisbury, the great statesman, and once a powerful figure in English political life. is nearing his end. He is suffering from complica- tion of diseases and there Is scant hope for his ultimate recovery. Field Marshal Lord Roberts and his staff will soon ar- rive in the United States for a visit. They are booked to sail on the Old Dominion liner Mayf1ower, which will leave the port of Liverpool on September 23. en route to Boston. "Bobs'' is popular among the Americans and he will re- ceive many attentions while in the United States. Everyone admires a gooG soldier, and Lord Roberts has that rep utaton, although the Boers proved a tough proposition for the veteran.
 P. c.