The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-04

AZ-nA @Nt1L AAA4Aidd3 ACll AH0uHdiiA RtA- HV grims 5ourneyed to old Concord
 to worship al the shrine of Mother Eddy, the apostle of the Christian Scientists It is needless to say that the inspiration dispensed from her soulful person was amply sufficient to go around. The recent love letter which was sent by Mrs. Eddy to her disciples assembled in Boston was a remarkable document to say the least A layman reading 1t would have had about as clear an idea Of it's meaning when he finished as is to be de- rived from reading one of Mir. Rooaeve1t's speeches.
 The letter of greeting closed with a poem. Already the newspaper paragraph CTS of the country are beginning to sharpen their wits at the expense of Mother Eddy. Whatever the papers may eay the Christian Scientists are fast be- coming power in the religious affairs of the United States Mark Twain once predicted that this sect would some day be larger than any other Protestant de- nomination. He may have been joking at the time, but his prediction seems already fulfilled. It is estimated that there are now one million Christian Scientists in the United Statts By the census of 1900 there were only three denominations of the Protestant faith who were credited with more than one million members each. These were the Methodists Baptists and Presbyterians. From this comparison 1t can be seen that Mother Eddy leads an army of believers that is a power in the land.
 A few days ago in a stretch of 100 miles on one of the western roads log tramps were bounced out into the cold world This is a little more than one tramp to the mile. The incident causes one to won der whether the genus hobo is really de- creasing or not Some sociologists hold that he is not decreasing, while others believe that he is neither increasing nor diminishing in numbers, but is remain ing on a par.
 Tramps are picturesque characters al- ways, although it is not desirable to study them at close quarters Homeless. wan dering, without purpose and without am bition, the majority piece out the tedium of an aimiess existence by reckless dissi- patton. Just now the Kansas wheat fields are calling loudly for men to harvest the grain, but the tramp. content in slothful ease. cares not to accept the opportunity offered to raise himself from the mire by honest work Instead he sails by on the through freight beaming at the prospect of the sun-browned fields and pleased that he is not manipulating a fork in them.
 The 'hobo' Is a gentleman of leisure. a man of the world, and his independence in all things earthly is supreme. He takes his three meals a day, enjoys his cigar and peruses the columns of the daily papers with acumen. Just now the tramp Is journeying leisurely northward. for he dislilSes extremes of heat and cold When l the winter winds begin to nip he will re- turn to the south. but always easy, al. ways undisturbed.
 corps of eminent architects have com. pleted an examination for the Vatican and their report states that extensive repairs are greatly needed. owing to the wearing away of the stone and the dry rot which l has eaten up the great supporting beams ], In the chambers of the papal palace The recent fall of the Campanile at Venice alarmed the pope and this investigation was the result
 The famous Sistine chapel Is in the worst condition. The wooden beams sup porting the ceiling have routed to sucf an extent that Pope Leo has ordered 1 them to be replaced with modern stee