The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-07

and the American girl can i'll this re- quirement provided she does not allow her fondness for athletics to deteriorate into coarse maseulinlty.
 Frank L. Stanton, the light-hearted singer of southern melodies. is a source of pride to the south, and is greatly ad- mired for his exquisite verses. The Stan ton column of fun. philosophy and verse has long been a feature of the Atlanta Constitutions editorial page, and Stan toms poems are widely copied. A num- Der of our great dalies have special Stan ton departments, and their editorial pages in which the Georgia poets work is given much prominence. The quaint philosophy and humor of MT. Stanton appeal most to the newspaper public, but some of his lines are written in the hap piest vein, and are literally gems des- tined to live long after the genial soul who gave them birth has passed away. In London, MT. Stantons verse set to music has proven immensely popular.
 
 The Honorable Sam Parks, claiming New York as his chosen field of useful ness. is really remarkable man. We sec him facing the bar of justice charged with one of the meanest crimes a public man can commit In spite of influence, he is convicted. It is but step to Sing Sing and prison stripes. Almost before we realize that he is really a convict, he is back in New York "waiving his magic wand' over the walking delegates. AL though his character was believed by many to be of that negative quality that precludes any but very small virtues, he was able to make his power felt in no uncertain manner A thorn in the side of his erstwhile followers, he succeeded in winning them over with an art worthy of a better cause. For instance, during the Kansas City convention of the Inter- national Association of Bridge and Struc- tural Iron Workers the followers of President Buchanan made it strongly un- derstood that they would withdraw if money was voted to Local No. of New York. After the consummate Parks had addressed them they straightway voted $1000 as a loan from the association. From that time Sam Parks was domi- nant figure. He was called a jail bird and the odor of corruption clung to his person, but he ruled the convention. Discord was rife, but 1t phased not the intrepid Parks. Even when defeated those who cast their votes against him could not but cheer him roundly Sam Parks is really remarkable man.
 The London Lyceum theatre Is to be turned into music hall. This announce ment has caused regret to play lovers in many lands who have always associated the house with Sir Henry Irving, as the leading theatre of the English speaking world. Irving's failure has given use to question in dramatic circles as to whether a great actor-manager like Irving is bet ter suited for his position than a man like Charles Frohman, whose success has been little short of marvellous. It has been pointed out that a man who is himself a great actor and aglow with the fire of genius will attempt to give the public more than 1t cares to see. He will sur round himself with expensive stars until slim door receipts confront him with ruin. z It seems to be a case of too much of good thing proving bore. The public will not stand for prolonged high tension. There are not enough cultured people cap able of enjoying great acting night after night. On the other hand a manager who buys his plays simply for their commer- cial value is apt to come much nearer to pleasing his patrons and incidentally making big rolls of money. From an ar tstic standpoint of course the former is better, but the downfall of the Lyceum in London and of Booths theatre in New York gives us serious doubts. P. c.