The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-10
: ALLIE ERMINIE RIvEs

ALLIE ERMINIE RIVES has
B1N declared in an article published
= in the Chicago American that no
woman should be executed She does
not depend especially on the force Of
argument to carry her point nor does
she show exactly why a woman who
has been duly tried, convicted and SEN
fenced to death should not suffer punish
ment as justly as a man. shs dwells on
that latent ehiyalry, that Difference ac-
corded to woman, even in her lowest
state, and appeals to the tradition ac-
cepted in most civilized countries that
woman is endowed with superior quail
ties by the Creator; that she is more
sacred In her person than man. and
therefore the law should yield to this
sentiment and commute a sentence of
death to life Imprisonment There is
something, after all, in her claims,
but there is certainly no argument
Of law or Justice, since a woman
is capable of committing crimes as afro
cious as the stronger sex has ever dared
to attempt. 1t has been said that there
Is nothing nearer heaven than a good
woman and nothing nearer hell than
bad one. Cold facts and Unconditional law
would pay scant heed to the plea that
a woman who sheds blood should not be
hanged or electrocuted simply because
she is a woman. but fortunately human
ity in its severest moods is susceptible
to an indeinable feeling that a woman
should not die at the hands of a pub
lie executioner. Women have been put
to death for crimes in the past, they
have even been hanged, but 1t Is an ex-
ceptional jury nowadays that will rec
ommend such extreme punishment.
The decision of a German court that
poker is game of skill rather than a
game Of chance will be concurred in by
veterans Of the chips, regardless of what
the novice may say. The old poker
player prides himself on his bluff" on
he holds a hand that he has not and
the immutability of his countenanoe at
the most critical periods. This self-re-
preston is the poker players chief
stock In trade, not to mention his ability
to read the cards Of his opponent from
his face. Old 'stagers" are prone to
boast of their skill" at the game, and
there is no denying the fact that 1t does
require "skilr' and oftentimes slight of
hand to be successful, but after all there
is just bare element OF chance so long
as the "skillful" gentleman does not
have an additional pack of cards up his
sleeve.
President Francis Of the late Worlds
Fair at st. Louis is very wise man.
1t is believed that he has already dem
onstrated that fact by the skill with
which he avoided complications with the
board of lady managers. but the astute-
ness Of Mr.. Francis has been again dem
onstrated by his plan recently announced
to make tour of the world In order to
express his thanks in person to the
potentates of the countries which sent
exhibits to st. Louis. OF course the ex-
penses of this junket will not come out
OF Mr.. Francis pocket. They certainly
ought not to. and no one should expect
him to buy the tickets Tor such an i'm
portant mission. But think of the de-
lightful prospect In storel The task OF
expressing thanks to almost any one is
a pleasant and agreeable diversion, but
when the thanks bearer is wined and
dined by the worlds rulers 1t can readily
be imagined how extremely pleasant his