The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-10
IN CURRENT MAGAZINES
BY PAUL PRY.

The Book Lovers Magazine for the cur
rent month is one of the most pleasing
numbers ever issued. The mechanical ex
eoution and artistic arrangement is far
above the usual standard; and special
mention must be made of the exduisitely
colored Illustrations and the fine, bold
type. The articles of the issue are Of I'M
usual excellence and replete with genu-
Inc interest.
The initial article is somewhat unique,
and treats of Managers and Manage
ment of the Modern Store;" and is by
Talcott Williams, popular young writ
er; while a sort of addenda on the sub
ject under the heading, Department
Stores as MASTERS of Time" is by Cyrus
Townsend Brady, the popular author.
Splendid portraits in tint are given of
John Wanamaker, the prince among
merchants, Robert. C. Ogden and others.
OF these, Mr.. Williams says: This com
pick organism, the joint product of pub
licity, public demand. and personal lni
tiative, has developed a mercantile type
of its own, differing and differentiating
more than do railroad and professional
men, Business imagination all the man
ayers, proprietors and creators of these
great enterprises must have. Nearly all
who have founded a successful depart
meft store possess Imagination, sense for
style, and capacity for business design,
or else sheer ability In organization. All
these founders have some Of both quail
ties few both, and most one or the 9TH
....f-~ 4 -ssaaR
ability by itself viii not create a depart
ment store"
Mr.. Brady writes also of an interesting
experiment he made In a number of large
stores of the time needed to purchase few
necessary articles, and his remembrance
of ~the exhaustion with which the femin-
Inc members Of my family, after a day Of
toll in the. marts of trade which are the
haunt of women, sink into convenient
chairs and with tired signs and much
animosity toward the hard conditions of
shopping, declaim 1tfully against the
time wasted in buying this or that at
so-and-so's store"
Immortal Women Novelsts''3 by a
number Of well-known writer's, most not
ably, Agnes Repplier is valuable and
thoughtful series. Those written of are.
Jane Austen-the immortal three-Char-
lotte Bronte and George Eliot; there are
ing Heights and George Sand.
A unique idea carried out in >the pub
lication of magazine is the new venture
entitled, 1.-The Smiths; a Magazine for
People Named Smith" The current is
sue Is the third number. 1t is published
in Detroit, Michigan by the Smiths Pub
fishing company. The contributors are
are all named Smith, but no doubt the
courtesy of the subscription list will be
extended to others not bearing this name.
One of the articles this month-and an
interesting one from the, statistics; gath
cred on the SUBJECTS 1.-THE 100000 Smiths
In America"
The author says: There are 100000
Smiths in the United States! One out of
every one hundred and twenty-seven in
habitants of our fair land bears that
namer'
eThere are 10000 American Smiths of
military age. In other words, an able
bodied Smith might be substituted for
each soldier and sailor differently named
in our army and navy.
'"fo put 1t another way, Uncle Sam might
turn over all his fighting equipment to
the Smiths. They could fill every regi-
ment and man every ship in the service
so far as numerical and age requirements
are concerned Seven Smiths distinguish
war. One Smith has been nominated for
President of the United States; six have
been members of the cabinet; one was
elected president pro tempore of the se..-
ate"
"A contribution to the same magazine
which shows a thoughtful ami suggestive
GRASP is entitled The Ideal Woman From
a Mans Standpoint" by Howard T..
Smith. Every bit Of the article Is worth
reading and many of the points are
summed IN the following: "Graoe, dainti-
ness-essential elements of charm are
what men like in women. Responsive
ness that springs from an Instructive and
intelligent sympathy; fneness Of thought
and delicacy of feeling; The intefpretative
and suggestive mind the fyentlcness that
appeals to strength; the sincerity that
thinks no shame and that is loyal beyond
even the appearance of untruth; and the
frankness that gives all and asks all
without fear.-these. l think. are the
traits which render their possessors SUI
preme among their SEX"
The May Smart Set has an opening
Htory, "Rosebuds Grandpapa" stepped in
be usual Smart Set atmosphere, in which