The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-26

M 1OJ Romes 300 churches pealed forth O a solemn requiem in honor of dead Pope Leo. The chimes began to ring at sunset and the hour was rendered doubly impressive by the glorious Italian skies died crimson by the sun. All the seven hills of the Eternal City resounded with clamor which could not be called music, although it was impressive in the extreme. The bells were not rung in the formal manner to which we are accustomed, but with triple strokes at intervals of half a minute.
 It must have been an inspiring moment to those people who looked down upon the city while the bells were tolling. The surrounding elevations had many watch CTS who stood entranced by the gor- geous sunset and the atmosphere of sad ness that lowered over Rome. Many of these were Americans or people from other distant lands, and they were all the more susceptible to the influences or the hour on account of the unusual cir cumstances attending. Since the illness of Pope Leo was first announced there have been many impressive scenes in the streets of Rome and about the entrances of the Vatican, but none was more effec- tive than the tolling bells.
 Now that General Cassus M. Clay is removed from the clouds that enveloped his later years and sleeps in peace there are many former admirers who are en- deavoring to blot out the distressing events that marred the closing years of his life by reference to the man when he was in his prime. In the old days, Gen. aral Clay was a distinguished figure in affairs of the south. He was noted for his winning courtesy and polished man. ner. being one of the few survivors or the old-time ante-bellum gentleman AL thoush a model of good natured ease, when angered, General Clay was con- stunned with a desire to kill his man. He figured in many sensational encoun- ters and could use the pistol or the RoUie knife with equal facility. It was all right in those days. so his war-hke adventures did not lower him in the es- timation of his friends.
 There are many who believe that Gen. Clay was not responsible for the unfortu- nate affairs that marred the last years ol his life It is generally thought that he was mentally unbalanced for a long time before his death The girl wife episode nrobably attracted most attention. Even in death the pitiful old man did not lose his affection for the faithless woman wno deserted him, and he left legacy Tor ner that should at least cause the girl to re- member him with some degree of grati- tude.
 Speaking on the time-honored subject Of Iynching, the western state of Wyoming recently gave an example of how the job was done in the flourishing days of the vigilance committee. There was nothing particularly narrowing about the.affair in wyoming The cowboys assembled, fore ed their way into the jail, and shot the men they were hunting without further ceremony. They did not even take the trouble of dragging the terrified wretches through the streets and stringing them up at the end of rope
 There was nothing very admirable about the lynching bees that preserved meas ure of order in the wild days of the West, but in view of the horrible barbarities now practiced in the states further east the old method was far more preferable manner of administering the doctrine of Judge Lynch.
 A marble bust of Carlyle has been plac- ed in the London library, of which the eccentric philosopher was at one time president. The bust is by Boehm and the rugged countenance of the author is well executed. Both in his writings and in his character Carlyle was such an eccentric genius that he holds no place of popular affection and admiration like that now oc- cupied in the minds of men by such au- thors as Sir Walter Scott and William l Makepeace Thackery. It is nearly always the case that mans character is faith fully portrayed in his writings and where his disposition repels people there is little I interest taken in his posterior works. We cannot but admire Carlyle's masterly lvocabulary, even though we are at the -moment hopelessly entangled amidst the liphilological extravagancies of "Sartor
 Resartus."
 | When the jolly Hello Bills were in lBaItimore they enjoyed a crab feast. They