The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-19
HE trouble some people will take Y to find a subject for criticism is really astonishing. At tha sn,,th-

1O NA0 0 Sa0JCOL AOI ClIllClS1n IS
 really astonishing. At the South ern Baptist convention at Nashville the other day, Dr. Detford of St. Louis pro- tested against the custom of teaching children the quaint old story of Santa. Claus, saying that 1t was a myth and an abominatlon that should be abolished, as 1t would encourage children to be de- ceitful. If that is not straining at gnat such a ludicrous performance was never given by blundering humanity. The man who would advocate the abolition of Santa Claus legends must possess a cold and weather-beaten heart that has long ago ceased to respond to the memories of childhood. What would life be without Santa Claus, even for those who were children many years ago? Needless to say 1t would be a cold and cheerless existence In childhood and not much better after people are grown. The very fact that half the joy of Christmas time Is dis pelled on that unfortunate. night when too wakeful youngsters discover the true character of Kris Kringle is proof positive of the woe that would be brought to children in all parts of the world if Santa Claus should be abolished. There Is Thanksgiving day, Fourth of July, and circus day to make life pleasant but Christmas and Santa Claus overtops them all.
 While sixty members of the Northwest Missouri Editorial association were speed ing on their way to the big show at St. Louis one of their number who aspired to the reputation of a great practical joker, put on mask and proceeded to hold up his friends at the point of a pis- to1 in true train robbers style. Being taken unawares. the editors handed over their money hastily and then wired home for more at the next station. When the party arrived at St. Louis their money was restored and they were told that 1t was all a joke Remarkably funny, to be sure, but 1t was the merest chance that the humorous editor-highwayman was not pumped full of lead by an excitable fellow editor with a pistol and no desire to be robbed of his wealth. In that case the humorous edtor would have shared the fate of many practical jokers before his day. If he has a wife she ought to keep him at home hereafter.
 A very questionable tale is going the rounds which newspaper wits are trying to use for the purpose of making William Jennings Bryan feel bad. The story comes from Pittsburg and states that a local butcher killed a bull and after the animal was cut up copy of The Com moner was found in It's stomach undi- gested. Now the facts in the case may hold compliment for Editor Bryan, in that the value of his publication is appre- ciated by the beasts of the field, or it may be claimed that the bulls evident will lingness to die was proof that he appre- ciated what he had done, and being una ble to digest the fulminations of The Commoner, he accepted his fate with res- ignation. However, the main question Ia what made the bull eat the paper, any way? Heretofore newspapers have been the staple diet of goats but have been eschewed by self-respecting bovines.
 Sir Thomas Lipton is a man who most assuredly puts faith in the old adage. 'If at first you don't succeed, try try again. It is said that he is now ready to make fourth unsuccessful attempt to carry off the Americas cup and while