The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-23

Al
 UN full presentation of "Parsifaln
 ever attempted outside of Bey- reuth. The opera will be given at the Metropolitan opera house for ten con- secutive performances, beginning De- eember "A. under the management of Henrich Conried. Best seats will sell for the modest sum of $10, but the opera will be worth the price and no one would be small enough to cavil when such a brilliant musical treat Is afforded The famous conductor Is making lavish ex- penditure of money in an effort to make lis undertaking a success and is busily engaged in looking after a thousand in- evitable details. From present indica- tions this winter in New York will be marked by a series of brilliant musical events, chief of which will be the pre- sentatiop of "Parsifal at the Metropol- itan and the appearance of Adellna Patti.
 The proposal to erect a monument to R. D. Blackmore in Exeter cathedral has met with such a liberal response that the committee will provide a much hand somer memorial than was at first in- tended. The shaft will be of marble with a medallion head of the author, and in addition a handsome stained glass win dow will be placed in the cathedral. Those who have read the beautiful story Z of Lorna Doon" will be glad that a testimonial to the author is to be erect ed. The sterling virtues portrayed in his work are evidences of the soul character that lived in the man.
 The man who was responsible for the automobile is dead. James A Bowen an expert machinist and inventor, who is credited with the honor of first con ceiving the idea of conveyances driven by motors, succumbed to a stroke of paralysis in Pottsville, Penn, at the age of 6S years. Whether the world owes MT. Bowen debt of gratitude Is ques- ton that must be decided among the par agraphers. To judge from the maledic- tions that have been heaped upon the automobile within the past year or two and the avalanche of poor jokes to which
 it has given birth, the public has a large size grievance. However, 1t took brains to devise the so-called 'infernal ma chine," even if it does terrorize the pulp lie highway and destroy the populace. The motor Is also a convenience that proves of lasting benefit when properly used, but more often it is worse than nuisance. Perhaps when the inventor was at work he had lofty ambition to aOn ct the human race. and little dreamed that the fruit of his labors would be monopo- lized by the purse-proud scions of wealth as certain mark of their exclusiveness and their propensity to make themselves extremely ludicrous
 Just now there is a crusade in this coun- try against the reviers of soothing Lady Nicotine. Tobacconalian articles are num- erous in the press and each one strongly defends the smoker in his pleasures. It is hard to say why these discussions suddenly crop out in the newspapers but at inter- vals everybody begins to discuss a certain subject as if the whole affair were prear- ranged. Of course the scientific treatises on tobacco prove dry to certain extent. but the eulogies appearing in the metro- poitan dailies are most entertainine read Ing. Some are reckless. What if tobacco Is harmful they say, the pleasure to be derived from its use far outweighs it's evil effects and life is too short. anyway, to deny ones self every enjoyment. Other wise persons come boldly out and declare that moderate use of the weed in any form is positively beneficial to the human system. When an example of logevity among the tobacconalians is found all the other victims take the greatest delight in holding him up to public view, and haunt- ing his years, as 1t were, In the faces of the scientists. Whether harmful or not the sway of my Lady Nicotine Is undis- ~-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s.s-s