The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-02
HILE glittering throngs wend
 their way nightly to the the
 atres to bow down before new

A@ HILE glittering throngs wend
 !" their way nightly to the the-
 " atres to bow down before new stars Maurice Barrymore is dying in a madhouse At the AmItyville sanitarium in New York Barry" as he was familiar ly called in the days of his triumphs on the stage, with his mind shattered and his once handsome face gaunt and hag- gard, lives over again the scenes of his greatness when thousands were swayed by the match1ess perfection of his art All day long he plays before theatre built of cards the roles in which he won fame. Now as Rawdon crawley now as Captain Swift, or Captain Bradley in "A Man of the Morld,' the great actor stalks about, repeating the familiar lines at times with the fire and impressiveness that characterized him in his prime, while at other times he succumbs to weakness. These periods of raving are frequently interrupted by bursts of un- governable temper, during whicl4 Barry struggles with his attendants. At morn ing he carefully builds up his card board playhouse and at night, weary of acting before the audiences of his fancy, Bar "" sweeps down the toy with a brush of his hand and the day IS ended. It is pitt fable spectacle, the wreck of a genius and the downfall of a great mind, than which nothing is more heartrending Barry is dying as he lived-in splendid magnif- icence-and 1t will not be long now be- fe lad 5a
 44nother impressive picture is that pre- sented by Ira D. Sankey. the noted gospel singer, who now, hopelessly blind, waits for death. The old mans infirmity weighs heavy upon him and the darkness that has come upon his life is relieved only by the spiritual comfort which he derives from his songs The voice that has been heard around the worl1 still fingers over the Ninety and Nine,'' and in seclusion the venerable singer draws hope from the songs that have cheered so many thous- ands. It Is reported that Sankey will be brought south this winter in hopes of prolonging his life but the old mans days are numbered. He too will soon arrive at the close of remarkable career.
 l It Is said that the late Dr. Braxton Cra- ven who founded Trinity college, was man who never had dream. His was cu- ! rious physiological case that is not easily | accounted for, unless, perchance. it was merely an example of what nature can do contrary to the established order of things
 In his waking hours it Is comparatively easy for man to prevent day dreams l by the exercise of his will power and close application ito work but when asleep mankind in general is subject to countless mental vagaries. The mind is released from control and If the circumstances such as canvass back duck, grilled lobs- l ters, French salads and black coffee-are suspicious the slumberer's mind is apt to wander off into space and play him some curious tricks. Sometimes, too, he will have pleasant dreams, but none of them can be called up at his own volit- ion and all are dissipated at the moment of awaking. But Dr. Craven, according to his own statement, was differently constituted. His mind was either incap- able of dreaming or hiJ will power so great that such mental transgressions were forbidden, even in sleep