The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-18

1t is very bad taste, to say the least
that the facetious letter written by Mark
Twain to President Francis of the Louis
lana Purchase exposition should be given
such wide publicity on the very heels of
the announcement that the humorist's
wife was dead. OF course everybody
Knows that the letter was written before
Mr.. Clemens afflietion, but to publish It
at present puts him in a bad light and is
especially NAL apropos now that his
genial humor is overloaded with gloom
Two Augusta negroes have distinguished
themselves by theft that would attract
attention anywhere in the country. They
hired a two-horse wagon. drove up to
church late in the afternoon and stole
nine iron columns that weighed about
1000 pounds. They then drove off and sold
their booty to a foundry for 1886. Now In
New York it has been demonstrated that
enterprising burglars can drive up to a
mans house in broad daylight and carry
off his furniture without anyone saying
nay, while the coppers are looking on
with great interest, but for a similar trick
to be worked successfully in the south is
unusual. The incident merely shows how
easy 1t is, to rob people If you only have
the courage to try it. Some persons will
actually save you the trouble of going
after their property by bringing 1t to you
In such case it is a shame to take the
money. but few can resist the tempta-
ton.
A New York youth has won himself no.
toriety by declaring that hoboes are the
only happy people in the world and he
intends to be one of them just as soon
as he gets the chance. Perhaps the boy
is right after ALL The average tramp Is
certainly not loaded down with RESPONSE
bilities and they count for great deal
in this world. He has no social standing
to be safeguarded, his reputation Is as
nothing, he pays no tailor's bills and no
hotel bills, he tolls not and neither does
he spin-except yarns-barbers and baths
are to him foreign. he is never visited
by his wife's relatives for he usually
has no wife, there is no mother-in-law
peril to turn his days into days of grief.
the bill collector never troubles him.
church. religion and state are equally I'M
of germs Who can deny that the tramp's
life is in some respects thoroughly Uto-
plan? One might say that 1t is ideal,
were it not for the fact that tramps
have to submit to the annoyance of thick
headed policemen and constabulary who
do not know how to appreciate a real
philosopher.
People who are in search of delightful
way to while away a few weeks during
the summer time at little expense should
not forget the houseboat. Perhaps no
outing is more restful and thoroughly en-
joyable than one spent on a coy house,
boat where there are plenty of good things
to eat, comfortable beds protected from
the rain and all the pleasures of camp
ing out with all the advantages of stay
ing indoors when the weather is inclem-
ent. On the Alabama rivers the house.
boat habit Is already in favor and some
very comfortable crafts of this class are
now in commission. 1t costs but little to
build such a boat and when finished It
will last for life time, so there is 10
reason why people residing along the
waterways should not have a houseboat.
Malaria is of small consideration when
an outing is to be had so pleasantly.
p c.