The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-31
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

urch-goer-certainly most of them-will
heartily concur in these words Of wis
dom. It is no doubt a great temptation
for preacher to spin out, his sermon
when he is inspired by a fruitful theme,
but he should learn that what the people
want these days is brevity. The average
person will sit through two hours or two
hours and a half Of musical comedy at a
theatre. but will become positively fu-
rious If he is forced to listen to a SER
mon of longer duration than thirty min
utes at church. But even at the theatre
a performance that is too long quickly
calls forth complaint. No ones cares to
remain IN his seat after Ii o'clock, and
it is the constant endeavor of managers
to achieve rapidity of action. Only con-
tinued 'erowding." elimination and ruth
less ''chopping" can bring elaborate pro-
auctions within the time limit. 1t is re-
markable how easily people compose
themselves for a siege of two hours or
more in a hot theatre and how indignant
they wax when the sermon at church
continues fifteen minutes longer than the
usual time. There seems to be a differ
enee in the way people regard the per-
formances given in pulpits and on the
stage.
If the report is true that turkeys are
bringing $50 in Port Arthur, eggs p
cents a pound and dog meat u cents, it
is reasonable to suppose that none but
the plutocratic residents of the town are
doing any marketing-or any eating.
The suggestion that women Jurors
would be much to lift the burden Of dis
agreeable jury duty off the shoulders
of men, is one that at first glance looks
feasible. In fact, there is no special rea-
son why women are not physically quail
fed for this lofty performance, but the
chief objection to their serving is that
they would never arrive at a decision.
One woman trying to make up her mind
is bad enough. What would result IL
twelve women were to attempt it at the
same time and in the same place-a stuffy
room, probably where there were no cur
tains at the window and no flowers on the
table? The picture is awful to contem-
plate. No two of them would think alike
about the case, and If all of them got
safely out of the room without any ia
talities they would never speak TO each
other again. There are some potent rea-
sons why women cannot and should not
serve on juries.
1t is reported that Thomas W. Lawson
of Boston is about to talk himself into
The harmless class. OF course no one ex-
pected the Standard Oil corporation to
be pulverized into powder by the efHusion
of Mr.. Lawson; neither did the country
for one moment anticipate tnat a. II.
Rogers and others of that i1k would go
out of business, but the fact cannot be
denied that the Boston fnancier has made
an impression on Wall street He has cre-
ated a vast amount of discussion in this
country; he has had himself widely adver-
tised and what he wrote has been read
everywhere. 1t is also rumored that Mr..
Lawson is in no immediate danger of 11av-
ing to go to the poorhouse as a result OF
his temerity in assailing the mighty lords
of finance. With this record, Mr. Lawson
can afford to subside right now with con-
siderable credit, but he has more extent
sive plans in view. The result is prob
lematical, but the oil trust and several
other trusts will probably be doing BUSH
ness when Mr.. Lawson finally decides to
retire. P. C.