The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-05
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

HE HON. THOMAS WATSON of
w Georgia has begun his travels and
:, Wednesday he was reported In
New York on his way to Lincoln, Neb.,
whore he goes to open his campaign Aug
ust TO- The lion. Tom does not care 10
discuss politics until he begins his fight
for the presidency on the popuiist plat
form but he announces tnat he has writ
ten new book about war times In tho
south which Will be issued within few
weeks While Mr. Watson Is In no seri-
Gus danger of occupying the White House
at any time soon his little campaign will
serve to keep him in the public eye and
will boom his books immensely. Mr. Wat
son writes good books and books that are
well worth reading. In fact his historical
work is rated very highly by the savantsr
but still We may consider him fortunate
In being able to keep himself so we'll add
vertised through the medium Of the popu-
list party. Few authors enjoy the adj
vantages of a presidential nomination.
While they are trying to interest the press
and the public in what they are doing the
Hon. Tom is doomed b. the populists and
the same results are accomplished. The
distinguished Georgian has small need for
press agent and his literary admirers
are glad that his useful and honorable
career In the realm of books will not be
cut short by his elevation to the pres
idency.
Another Georgian. Judge Cam of sa-
vannah, has attracted attention to himself
by enjoining a young man from winking
at his Dulcinea. OF course the enforeeg
ment of such a decree would be rather
difficult, provided the young people ever
got within winlxing shot, but it's very ar
bitrariness commands attention. winking
one eye is a practice of long standing
which. has served to convey volumes of
meaning without a word being spoken
| Faceuous spirits have been known to use
1t as a greeting business men on the
inside of o-al have employed the wink
to let in a friend without making discos-
ures to the respective victim. in flirting it
is deemed Indispensable; it has promoted
matrimony in the past and will break up
happy homes In the future; in councils of
state, In halls of reveiry or on the street
the wink is equally effective and there is
no danger that even the strong arm of
the law will ever succeed in preventing
It's use by Injunction.
Why do our own campaign poets tardily
woo the muses. and daily by the wayside
instead of proclaiming the virtues of re-
publicans, populists and democrats in
measured rhyme? Rudyard Kipling
across the water has set an example that
might be followed to advantage over here
While campaign managers are busy dis
cussing plans for victory the campaign
poets are inactive. 1t has been demon
strated in the past that poetry is a COM
pelling power In party strife and while
1t cannot be considered the snews of war,
like trust funds, still it may be made
very useful. A few bards of the news
paper variety have tried their hands but
there seems to be so little real inspira-
ton in the approaching election that the
muses. are chary of response. No doubt
they are "summering' about Mount
Olympus, famous health resort.
Birminghams Automobiles are having
their share of comic adventures while
on the road, but they should not be
daunted by such little mishaps as break