The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

plenty of young fellows with the leisure and additional money to stay in England as long as they please. while others. equally ambitious perhaps, but lacking funds, stand ready to starve their way to degree for the sake of breathing the classic atmosphere of Oxford.
 A certain lady of the official circle in Washington has an ingenious and alto- gether charitable explanation of Pres ident Roosevelts perennial smile. It has been observed more than once that MT. Roosevelt seldom parts with that facial expression which plays such an impor- tant part in all cartoons and this lady tells the reason why. When the execu- tive permits his features to rest com posed, or when he is immersed deep in af- fairs, he is positively ugly It is even stated that his face is frightful enough to daunt the boldest pie hunter Per haps 1t is his fighting face, but it is cer- tainly awe inspiring. Such being the state Of affairs, and occupants of the White House not being denied mirrors. it is quite probable that MT Roosevelt has seen him. self in the glass without his smile and straightway vowed he would never be without 1t in public At any rate the executive is one of the few public men who wears the smile that won't come off,"
 The gentleman burglar of today is real " most interesting parsonage and at- tracts attention by the originality of his methods. The modern burglar is essential ly gentleman" Indeed, he is well fitted to shine in the drawing rooms of the rich quite as successfully before the hour of twelve as he is after that time, when merely passing through on his way to lift the silverware off the sdeboard The burglar of today is always referred 10 as the gentleman" burglar. No one knows just exactly what has become of those coarse fellows, with square jaws and baggy trousers that have been so often pictured in comic papers. Suffice if to say that they have all disappeared The man who now carries off your jewelry is refined and cultured. He may dron into the library during his early morning visit and peruse an essay by Montaign or he may be tempted to carry off an ut- 'SiiS "oA thiSSs piece or Dr1c-a-Drac Just to satisfy his craving for the artistic. If by any chance the lady of the house dis covers him and there Is no danger of male interruption she will find the burglar most polished and suave of tone, ready to chat pleasantly with her few moments mere ly to give her an opportunity to quiet her nerves and realize that it would De very bad form to scream. Burglar alarms have become subjects for ridicule on the part of the gentlman burglar, for he is an electrician also. and can thread the most intricate network of wires without any trouble In fact the gentleman burglar has become so talented and accomplished that the police are ashamed to arrest him and about the only way to avoid his visits Is to stay awake all the time.
 Patti has at last given up the struggle and has retired. not exactly defeated, but perhaps realizing that this time there fs no possibility of another farewell The diva has cancelled her remaining engage ments, after singing in all the important cities of the country except Birmingham, and will return to Europe for rest and re- tirement. While the American public was as rule gracious to the woman who was once the greatest singer in the world, there was a distinct disappointment felt by many who were too extravagant in their anticipations. P. c.