The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-27
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORT n

exert himself to entertain the Al
 = ..s sszt,.-..sa. ss1ss at bel as.-.s - .',, .sa.~s "a. ss, .,,.. d thd ,,ns-honorsd M .st4aeb r,. , ds- tSaiser. In the
 op- friend. tn. asr.l.n. ar. | .-.,,,,,a @a .'sa .sa,. '.,..s as4snt,as AgaizA lessor Lowell of Boston has discof Ted that there is a brilliant projection from the edge of the planets disc which he Is unable to explain by natural causes and has therefore come to the conclusion that 1t must be artificial. This belief had led to some interesting speculation as to whether the inhabitants of Mars are again attempting to signal earth dwellers.
 The difficulties we would meet with in signaling to the Martians have been re peatedly written up by imaginative peo- pie for the press of the country. For in- stance 1t is stated that a "wig-wag'' communication would require a flag 32, 500 square miles In area. To secure a flag pole for this bit of cloth would be a problem. If an electric light were used 1t would have to be as large as the city of London. With such difficulties as these to encounter 1t is not probable that we will soon find out what the Martians are talking about
 Russia is the possessor of one of he oldest unchanged issues of postage stamps in the world. The Hong Kong stamps were first issued in 1858, and are identical with those used today. The head of King Edward of England will soon re- place that of Queen Victoria on the Hong Kong stamps however, and then Russia will have the oldest issue now extant. the first stamps having been printed in 1S64- 65 and remaining unchanged until the present time
 Large orders are now being given for nickel steel rails. and their efficiency has been fully demonstrated. These rails are found to be very serviceable on curves where the wear and tear is heavy. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company has purchased more than 1000 tons of nickel rails which have been placed on the company's lines. The rails weigh S5 pounds each. They cost more than the Bessemer steel rails but last longer, and have been found more economical in the end. In one test reported nickel steel rails were put down in 1897 and Bessemer rails in 1898. In 1902 the Bessemer had to be renewed but the former seemed good for several more years of service.
 The French tobacco monopoly is rapidly spreading, and in connection 1t is interest," ing to note the great men of the repub- lie who have been smokers. Moreau coolly pulled away on a cigar while his legs were being amputated, and Ney while on his way to execution. Oudinot received a pipe from the hands of the emperor which was ornamented with precious stones and was valued at e12.0OO. Lassalle accepted a pipe from a Prussian field marshal as a ransom It is said that Napoleon himself smoked only twice in his lifetime. On one occasion he took lessons from Name luke in Egypt and on another he smoked a pipe in Paris which was presented to him by the Persian ambassador.
 Some interesting figures taken from the British registrar generals report show that the annual birth rate in London for the year ending April I was the lowest ever recorded, being 2S.5 per 100O The greatest number of deaths were caused by consumption This malignant disease claimed 7621 victims. There were 34lo deaths from violence, including 5S5 cases of suicide and 2797 accidents. The number of marriages was 40,S17.