The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-02

rural Journalism, for often as not he falls heir to tho Largest watermelon and accepting the gift is his prerogative.
 President Francis is having a hard time these days. In addition to being a hard working man he has just been uncere- moniously and unintentionally squelched by Miss Alice Roosevelt. It seems that party Of notables was being photo- graphed and Just as the photographer touched the button Miss Roosevelt step ped in front of the distinguished presi- dent of the Louisiana Purchase exposi- tion and right hand man of Furope's royalty, completely eliminating him from the group. Very naturally Mir. Francis is not pleased with the picture, but he should console himself with the thought that he constitutes a large part of the show at St. Louis and is one of the most important personages in the country just at present.
 Baltimore is profoundly shocked by the suicide of Mayor Robert NJ. McLane and well she may be, for the dead executive was not only one of the youngest mayors a man of ability His death is universally deplored and whatever may have been the secret that drove him to commit such rash act-whether is was mental aber- ration or troubles that the world Is not permitted to know-the country sympa- thizes with Baltimore in her loss.
 While the elevator is not a remedy for that tired feeling" 1t assuredly pro- notes such a state of physical desuetude to remarkable degree. In fact the ele- vator and the trolley car have so con- trived to keep people from taking exer- else that something will have to be done in the near future to prevent the race from degenerating into large-headed weddings. A man of wealth and fashion rises from his luxurious bed. valet saves him the scant exertion of putting on his clothes and searching under the bureau for collar buttons. He walks five steps from his room door, perhaps, and takes elevator to the dining room. A few strides and he Is seated at the table for breakfast. After he has finished his meal he walks out to the curb, enters his carriage or automobile, and rides to his office where he sits down again The man who has not elevator, automobile or carriage contents himself with the trolley car but you don't catch any of them walk ing.
 The genial hobo Is abroad in the land. Reports from various parts of the country state that he is as lazy, as thrift less and as persuasive as ever. On account of the picturesque life they lead and their wonderful knowledge of human na- ture tramps are very interesting char acters but they do not move in good so- ciety, and while they are certainly tour sts of the first class, they stop in more jails than swell hotels and consequently the larger part of humanity has few or>- portunities of learning their many accom- plishments
 A story is told of man who killed himself because he was called a card sharp by some of his neighbors from whom he had won 75 cents playing pe- nochle. What a horrible example to peo- ple who indulge In euchre fests and bridge whist spasms! The poor man was entirely too sensitive for this world, or perhaps he was chagrined over the fact that he played until o'clock in the morning and did not win enough money for a years subscription to the Ladies' Home Journal.
 P. c.