The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-19
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

I fate that lies in walt for all who attempt
| to discover the secrets of those cold and
| desolate regions surrounding the north
pole. An expedition Is indeed fortunate II
It succeeds in getting back to warmer
climes at ALL even If the voyage proves
unsuccessful
Polar explorations will continue to be
fraught with many dangers until some
new method of traversing the ice fields
is devised Atrships will solve the aues-
ton, no doubt, but airships themselves
are somewhat problematieal, and until
they are made absolutely safe and dirigi-
BILE there is not much attraction in trip
above the Arctic circle for the man who
New York.
Sir Henry Irving is being criticised for
his remarks concerning the Chicago Of
ficials for their rigid restrictions placed
on all theatres and on the playhouses es-
pecially in which Sir Henry was giving
performance of 1.-THE Bells" 1t seems that
the great English actor desired more
light than the ordinance permitted. He
was allowed to use the strongest mean
descent light thatc ould be obtained, but
he wanted calcium and this was refused,
In retaliation Sir Henry called the city
officers Jacks in office" and made other
uncomplimentary remarks that were
surprise to his audience. AS member
of the sIIengIish" titled class there were
many people who thought that the actor
showed very bad taste in objecting to re-
ouirements that were entirely for the
protection of his audience, and were the
result of one of the most horrible the
atre disasters that the country has ever
known. But Sir Henry was not in the Iro-
uuois theatre during the fire and there
fore he has not such a vivid recollection
of Chicago people.
John Fox, the well-known author has
signed a contract to go to the far east
and write for Scribner's Magazine. Mr..
Fox is noted as a capital story telle. and
forceful writer. His latest and most
successful book is 1.-THE Little Shepherd
of Kingdom Come" which has been wide
ly read since its publication. Mr.. Fox
is a graduate of Harvard and was also
a correspondent during the Cuban war.
Anything he may write concerning af-
fairs in the far east will, therefore be
of general interest although his admir-
ers would prefer to have him write novels
and short stories instead of special arti-
cles. However he will no doubt pick
up some excellent fiction material during
his stay in the far east and on his return
may favor the public with another good
book.
The 1904 edition of the World Almanac
has reached all the leading newspaper
offices in the country and has proven as
welcome as in former years. This useful
compendium of everyday knowledge has
become to be regarded as a standard
work to be ranked with dictionaries en-
cyclopedias and other useful books, and
aside from the great advertising it brings
the New York World 1t proves almost
equally valuable to people who wish to
have a convenient book at hand for
ready reference. 1t may be said that the
World Almanac in America and Whita-
ker's in England are international in their
scope. The average newspaper office
would have a hard time getting along
without the World Almanac P. C.