The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-25
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

may expect to see the old-fashioned appll. cation by hand speedily become a back number. It is reported that the new in. strument of scholastic torture "works satisfactorily" and the humiliation of be. ing placed In the machine has a salutary effect on the pupils. Yet there are old pedagogues who will not receive thi, invention with any degree of favor. Thers is satisfaction in the resounding con. tact of the palm and the resultant jingle conveyed to the youthful anatomy for the teacher who has been married from the opening tap of the school bell until the hour of his final revenge. The work will be done, much more expeditiously and more satisfactorily but still we mor- . tals are hard to please. As for the child ren, 1t will be an entirely different mat ter Instead of being afforded boundlesa opportunities for mischief making whlo the master Is engaged in a Ticking" as was formerly the case, that gentleman will now be able to sit calmly at his desk and preserve order in the schoolroom while the painful operation is being per- formed. It is very ingenious contriv- ance, this automatic spanker, but the rising generation will give no thanks to the man who gave 1t birth. Perhaps that remarkable individual will never be known to fame but his machine will prove a boon to the instructor of youth
 One of the greatest boons to the modern grower is the fruit train. These flyers make even better time than passenger trains and save an immense amount of produce. The New York Central has recently put on a fruit special that makes better time than the Empire State Ex- press. It is run for the accommodation of western New York farmers and makes the trip from Syracuse to New York in five hours and forty minutes, 22 minutes faster than the celebrated express. These fruit trains are operated in season on all the roads traversing agricultural dis tricts They are greatly appreciated by growers who would otherwise be sadly handicapped in getting their products to market. Modern carrier traffic has been vastly improved since that day when the first locomotive wended it's perilous way.
 Cardinal Gibbons is receiving a cordial welcome his return to American shores. The venerable prelate is looking much improved in health and talks most Interestingly of his impressions of the new pope. His presence in Rome was produc- tive of much good feeling between the church and the American people, as was evidenced by the fact that the American delegation received the first audience granted by his holiness Being himself a man of strong personality and progress sive ideas, the cardinal did not fail to make a favorable impression on the pope, who is capable of sharing in his views. Plus x seems to have made an equally good impr ession on the cardinal to judge from his eulogstic remarks concerning the man who will henceforth dominate the Catholic world. For a time at least Cardinal Gibbons will be busy man un- til the arrears of work are made up, but he will find time no doubt to give some interesting views on the situation at Rome and the stirring scenes through which he has passed while away.
 In spite of efforts to the contrary hazing goes merrily on at Annapolis. As a result of stringent regulations passed to stamp out the custom the middies have substi- tuted running which is merely new dress for an old woman. The torments un- fortunate aspirants for naval honors are compelled to endure are severe and those who have been run" express no desire for anything worse. Certain influential papers are taking the matter under edi- torial consideration and are making a pro- test against the exercise of brute force to cause suffering to those who are phys- caly defenseless." With the exuberant hazer in the academy and rough experi- ences on a man of war the two entrances to the United States navy seem to be effectually guarded against the timid youth of America. F. c.