The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-09-15

AM AK at any stage brings sorrow
wv in its train. No matter how
w unimportant the engagement
may be. there are some poor fellows who
give up their lives. The arrival of the
of 302 dead soldiers from the Philippines
brought grief to many families who hop
ed to see their boys return alive. The
scene on the dock was a curious mix
ture of joy and sadness. While happy
relatives were greeting the return OF the
living others were shedding tears FOR
the dead. And yet, it shows the advance
we have made over former times when
the private soldier received scant atten-
ton after he fell, that the bodies OF our
dead heroes are brought thousands OF
miles across the sea and delivered to the
bereaved families for interment. During
the civil war many brave fellows met
death on the battle field who were de-
MED a Christian burial. The custom of
bringing dead soldiers home is practical
BILE because war today is far from being
the bloody carnage it once was. There
are not so many killed and as a result
the dead are treated with more respect.
After a struggle when ten or fifteen thou
sand men were killed 1t was only by the
most strenuous efforts that the bodies
were roughly Inferred on the battle field.
Nowadays when war has become a long
distance science it is an easy matter to
send every dead soldier back to his home.
American women are now inNParis buy
ing frocks Their achievements in this
respect will fill the dressmakers, tailors
and milliners with joy, but will also
cause heartburning among those unfor-
tunate ladies who could not go over to
make their purchases. 1t has long been
recognized that Paris designers set the
fashions for this country and society
leaders owe the French capital heavy
debt of gratitude. Efforts have been
made by ambitious tailors In London
and New York to offset the Paris modes
by their own designs. but they have met
with small success. The money that an
nually goes to Paris for the purchase of
wearing apparel for American women is
no inconsiderable sum, by any means.
Americans are the most profitable GUS
toners of the French designers and they
take great pains that there shall be no
diminution in the buying.
In order to further cut down expenses it
is reported from Rome that Pope Plus
is contemplating radical changes In the
household arrangements of the vatican.
1t is said that he will abolish the Swiss
Guards that splendid body of soldiery
that has always played such conspcu-
GUS part in the pageants of the Catholic
church. Although the practical utility of
the guards may be questioned they add
great dignity to the pope's establishment
and impart an air of temporal authority
that was very pleasing to Leo, who never
gave up his dream of resuming the
reigns of of temporal power. The new
pope displays a very commendable desire
to be economical, and has also shown
very clearly that he Is averse to display,
but people who are attracted by the pic
turesque features surrounding the papal
throne hope that he will not abolish the
Swiss Guards.
The great German universities have long
been Mecca for students from all parts
of the world. Perhaps in no other country
can scholar imbibe deeper at the foun-
tain of knowledge than In this land of
n pIr talk tc f1,sd Of 10