The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-01
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

will be the political antagonism Of Cham-
berlain and Balfour. They have both de-
elared that no political beliefs shall in
fiuence their friendship. but neverthe-
less each will fight for his opinion to the
last ditch. 1t is predicted that Mr.. Cham
berlain will be even more aggressive than
usual. for success or failure will mean
much to him in his future political ca
reer. He is said to be a man who prefers
life OF ease to the strenuous existence
Of politician. but he is plunged deeply
into the whirlpool now and will probably
be more or less engaged all the remainder
of his life.
News comes from sunny Hawaii that
the brown-skinned citizens of the islands
are becoming "anti-American," and have
expressed desire that the all-grasping
Yankees cease their encroachment This
is very natural step on the part OF the
Hawaiians who are rapidly following in
the footsteps of the poor Indian. Uncle
Sam has very kindly taken the trouble
of government off their hands, and now
everything else. From present indications
the natives will be swamped in the course
of a few years by the inread of the white
hosts, and they are beginning 10 see the
fate that is in store. 1t has been sug-
gested that they might at least be cour-
teous to the inevitable and accept anihila-
tion with smiling coun1enance. This
10 he
ironical.
From Honduras come rumors that an
ex-president of that battIe-swept coun-
try is now chained to the moor OF a cell
In a prison of Tegucigalpa. Indeed it
would seem that the office of chief ex-
ecutive in that republic is not a particu-
larly desirable one. The president never
knows just how many days or months he
will be allowed to retain his office before
his favorite general bounces him out and
turns the government topsy-turvy. Under
these circumstances the executive con-
siders himself fortunate IN escaping with
his skin unpunctured by bullet or sword
thrust The fate of the Honduras presi-
dent reminds us of that endured by the
unlucky Jugurtha, King of the Numidians
who was put into a bath of ice" under
the Captolne hill at Rome and left to die
of cold.
The French people have reached the
limit in looping the loop performan-
ces. The newest and most blood curd-
ling exhibition Of this character is the
"deathly circle over the lions cage" This
is an improvement on the cercle de la mort
itself. In the latter cyclists ride swift
~ around the circumference of circle,
the sides of which are gradually elevated
while the center remains stationary. The
conclusion of the performance reveals
them spinning around what looks like
basin without a bottom. At Neully fair
the bottom of the circle will rest on the
top of a lions cage When the sides be-
gin to rise the top of the cage will slide
off and den of fierce lions rendered furi-
Gus by the trainers whip will be disclosed.
In this case In addition to the multiple
dangers of looping the loop should the
performers lose their equilibrium they
would be hurled instantly into the jaws of
the snarling beasts.
In st. Petersburg there is college
where applicants for the police force are
trained for their duties. In connection
with the school is museum where are
exhibited all the tools and appliances
used by criminals In their work. The
'.jlmmies'' drills. and chisels used for
breaking into collection boxes are made
a special study, as this kind of robbery
fourishes in Russia. The intricate Rus
sian passport system is studied in detail
and the novices are taught all the duties OF
the dvorniks, a class of officers that are
assistants to the police.