The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-01

THE "glorious Fourth is approach \OD ing at such rapid rate that even
 baseball fanatics are beginning to realize that something more important than three straights" on the home dia- mond is near at hand. Already towns in various parts of the land are making preparations to celebrate the day and the old question of a noiseless Fourth has been revived By the way. noiseless Fourth Is a monstrosity In holidays that few people ever expect to see, despite the fact that long-haired reformers are now crying. Down with the frecracker, the Roman candle and the skyrocket! chi-' cago will have big Fourth of July cefe- bration and other large cities are look- ing forward to the day with pleasant an- ticipations. From present indications the usual number of small boys will be laid up for repairs and there will probably be no siiminution in the noise For the sake of the American small boy it is to be hoped that the voice of reform will not prevail Fourth of July without irecracker would be worse than a circus without an elephant.
 
 | Charles Henry Booth, who died recent ly at his home in Englewood' N. J., at the age of 1O1 years, had the distinction of being the oldest holder of a life insur- ance policy in the world and he illustrat- ed to a remarkable degree the fallacy of the modern idea that the man who re- tires from business soon dies. MT. Booth | at fr.a T7aQrrha nj | in New York, having worked his vfay up from an humble station in the commer- cial world, and he retired thirty years ago. It is safe to say that his life is most remarkable from the fact that he lived half a lifetime after withdrawing from business. It is the usually accept ed belief-supported by a great many ex- amples-that man should not quit work in this strenuous age until death forces him to stop, and if he does presume to take a little rest before departing from earthly cares he will depart much sooner than he intended. Perhaps after all not | too much overwork is conducive to lon gevity and MT. Booth was an exception However. he was not lazy man, for he shaved himself every morning after he passed the 10O-year mark
 The automobile thug Is becoming a worst menace than the chauffeur him self ever dared to be- While the havoc wrought by automobilists seems to be | largely due to unforeseen accidents and carelessness the attacks of thugs on the occupants of automobiles are premedi- tated and done with malice aforethought It is said that the feeling against auto- | so intense that the protection of police has to be frequently invoked to save hapless chauffeurs from destruction. This resentment among the rougher classes seems to be due to the publicity given automobile accidents in the papers and the persistent satire of humorous pub lications and cartoonists.
 Children plus matches can perhaps do more damage in the long run than green Irish girls manipulating oil cans while trying to light a fire in kitchen stove. It Is not believed that any statistics have is probable that this statement is cor- rect A little matter of burning up a few houses is of every day occurrence and often the children themselves are con- sumed. Reports state that juvenile Ire bugs have just burned down seven houses