The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-17

T is striking illustration of the scant
 emoluments often bestowed on genius in this world that the family of the late Bret Harts Is now in straightened circumstances at Bayswater. a suburb of London, and would find 1t hard to solve the problems of not too luxurious ex- istence were 1t not for staunch friends in the American colony of London. That such should be the case is a sad com mentary on the vanity of life. Bret Harte was sunny tempered story teller. the literary apostle of the west, and while he did not over-awe the universe by lis genius he did write stories that re- vealed the master hand. Had he never written anything more than "The Luck of Roaring Camp" he would deserve to be held in grateful remembrance. From the earliest times literature has proven | a very unsatisfactory means to acquire wealth but when so many school girls are making money these days by writing books 1t Is hard that the families of men like Bret Harte and "Bill' Wye should be permitted to feel the bangs of poverty. To add to the trIbulations of | eyesight and will be sent to Switzerland to consult great oculist, In the mean time Miss Harte Is struggling hard to win success on the concert stage, but with many discouragements.
 Apropos of the yellow peril Professor Frederick Starr, one of those very origin al scholars who constitute the faculty of the University of Chicago, says that if the Japanese defeat the Russians in the present war 1t will mean the end or white mans supremacy and the yell low man will take charge of things. The of the white mans supremacy and the yell look. He says that the present strug- gle In the far east is a war of races and not war of nations. He further believes that every dog has its day, which is his hgurative way of saying that the day of the white race is drawing to a close. Eng land Is on its last legs, Europe is ex- hausted and the outlook is very, very discouraging, says Professor Starr. While the professor is a man of some standing in the community and entitled to be heard with respect, it is not believed that his views are supported by King Ed ward, Emperor William, Czar Nicholas and other old world rulers while there are many people in this country who are not quite so pessimistic regarding the yellow peril.
 Mary Anderson Narvarro will not yield to the Hast farewell" temptation that has been forced upon her by the urgent solicitations of her admirers that she appear in public for just one more tour, even though it be in the modest role of a reader. Our Mary" has retired for good and when she left the stage she clearly considered the step irrevocable Yet the yearning public cannot but admire Mrs. Narvarro all the more for her steadfast purpose to return no more to the glories that would await her before the foot lights.
 The Rev" Sam Small-the reverend part of his name is quoted now-has se- cured a new job and will henceforth pro- mote the Hearst boom among the hoos- iers of Indiana. While some people are inclined to think that it Is a far cry from preaching to political spellbinding, no one denies MT. Small's abilities as a speaker and the chances are that he will make a campaign orator that will fill