The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-14

IS the male animal becoming more ugly
 every day? This is a question that is seriously vexing certaiRtheoristss who have nothing better to occupy their at tention. From a cursory glance at the nondescript humanity hurrying along our citv streets we would come to the con- clusion that he Is not improving in good looks. The percentage of really hand some men seen in our daily walks of life is very small indeed when compared to that vast majority who have to depend on something more than a pleasing face to get along in sthe world. These same theorists tell us that after a woman pass es the age of twenty-one years it does not really concern whether a man is handsome or not. He is then valued for his accomplishments, for what he had done, and what he is likely to do. It is then that the real qualities of a man count and not the superficial embellish- ments of a striking exterior Such infor- nation brings comfort to a great num- Der of men who have never been consid- cred promising candidates for beauty show. Of course, 1t Is possible for a man to be both ugly and fool. but his plight in that case is so deplorable it is painful to contemplate. For long dme we have prided ourselves on the old | adage that clothes do not make the man. | Similarly, we like to think that regular features are not absolutely necessary to worldly success. Some of the ugliest men who ever lived have been notorious ly successful with the fair sex, and oth- CTS have attained to fame. From such examples, we may take hope. The man whose face is a living cartoon is not doomed to gauge his actions by his looks nor is he always required to play the | fool Of course, when a man Is intel lectual. good looking, and posses sev- eral other desirable qualities he is thrice blessed. but he is also an exception.
 The advent of Barnum & Bailey's cir circus will give us another opportunity of seeing people who risk their lives every day for the plaudits and dollars of breathless throng of spectators. When we come to think of it, there is vast army of these persons who play thrilling game with death week after week and sometimes year after year, un- til slip puts and end to their careers. Such exhibitions as furnished by animal trainers, high-wire artists, tumblers, aer- eonauts, high divers, "loop-the-loopers," and hundreds of others who perform dan gerous feats are proof conclusive that people nowadays will do anything for money, and that we have not yet outlived that spirit which caused the old Roman to delight in gladiatorial combats Every year some new trick must be devised to satisfy the public appetite and, up to this time, managers of amusement enter prises have been remarkably successful. Perhaps the most dangerous feat yet at- tempted is the looping the loop, as per- formed by Diavolo, who, by the way, f. nally lost his life as a result of his fool hardness. But there are many others almost equally as thrilling. In fact, there is very little done about a circus that does not possess some element of danger Even the clowns are apt to receive tumble that will prove fatal. Men who make parachute flights have become so numerous that they are glad to do the trick for paltry consideration of $50. but their feat is no less dangerous now than when it was a decided novelty There is a great demand for all kinds of break-neck performances, and managers very wisely engage everything apt to prove popular with the masses. And there can always be found people who will take the risk. as they receive hand some salaries so long as they can pre- vent an accident from putting an end 10 their performances and oftentimes their lives as we'll
 The remarkable demand for magazines in this country has been illustrated anew by several publications that have in a few years risen from the veriest rubbish to be very handsome periodicals, with wide spread popularity, staff of well known contributors, and standing of promi- hence among contemporaries Such a mag azine is Ainslee's. With the exception of seven leading periodicals of this class is- sued in America, Ainslee's Is not exceIled Yet, four or five years ago this same magazine was five cents worth of drivel that no one but school boy would pur- chase It began it's career when the yellow Kid was in his glory and it's cover design was a glaring representation of that youngster. Within were a few Jokes. A picture of an actress or two, and several mediocre stories. A person who saw the