The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-13
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

HN PARIS dreamer ycieped pr. Paul VN yalentin. announces that he will
 start a school of happiness where luckless mortals will be instructed in the art of wearing smiles just as they are now taught to use the palette or thump the plano. The learned doctor seems to think that It is all a question bleak the surroundings may be. all that Is necessary is just to be happy and let poverty. care. and other evils go by the board. One of the most stupendous tasks the Parisian doctor will undertake will be that of teaching people how to be happy though married. A school of hap niness" sounds well to superficial ears. but the art Is more elusive than the moonbeam and more intangible than the zephyr The school of happiness is in every mans heart. It Is for him to decide whether he will make use of its teach ings or struggle along through debts and varied tribulations like the rest of us here below.
 Senator Tillman of South Carolina seems to have been caught red handed with his pocket full of passes and no sat isfactory excuse for carrying around these favors of the piutocrats. He makes a lame apology by saying: Tt is the cus- tom and they press them upon me until [ cannot refuse" The incident itself has no importance, but is merely one of those amusing mlshaps which sometimes catch public men in an embarrassing position. Senator Tillman is noted for his relentless warfare upon the moneyed powers. and he is now having a hard time explaining why he does not pay car fare.
 Already Pope Plus X is beginning to succumb to the strain of his august posi- ton and it is feared that his reign will be far shorter than that of his predecessor In the Vatican. There Is a radical differ ence between the two men. One thrived in the close. vitiated atmosphere of the clois- ter and retained his vigor without exer- else, while the other must have the fresh. pure air or outdoors, or he dies. The new pope has endeared himself to the people of the world by his kindiness and it would be sad should he fall at the thresh- old of a brilliant reign upon the papal throne. It may be safely said that the new pontiff will not be the prisoner that Leo was. If confinement is forced upon him his life vii undoubtedly pay the for felt The world would be glad for Plus K to be more a creature of this life and not a mystic old man who Is secluded be- hind impenetrable walls and gives only an occasional glimpse of his face to the multitudes who pay him homage. It is said that the mystery which surrounded the life of Leo had much to do with the universal awe with which the saintly old man was regarded and on this account 1t Is hoped by the curia that the new pope will not make himself too common in the eyes of the masses.
 The vagaries of genius are once more il- lustrated by the separation of Jack Lon don and his wife. The young author tries to practice his peculiar ideas of love in real life which has been amplihed In his books. Mrs. London does not believe she can live happily with him and divide his affections. so she has sought protection under another roof. London Is a pro- nounced socialist and in addition has rath- CT broad ideas concerning the rules gov erning our every day lives that would be viewed with suspicion by sedate persons who are accustomed to conform them selves to custom.
 If fs riuOred on the RiaIto that Nau,