The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-21
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

"a TLANTA prides herself on being
VH quite passe town. She knows
thing or two about the world
and is not easily susceptible to fads. In
fact Atlanta prides herself on correct de-
pertinent under the most unusual cir
cumstances but the other day a circus
came to town. Straightway the Gate
way of the South" In the words of proud
Georgians, awoke. There was a scurry-
Ing about of the juvenile population,
grandfathers resigned themselves to the
task of carrying the children along and
everybody got ready to see the show.
In the papers much space was devoted to
depicting the various wonders of circus
lie and after the first performance was
given Atlanta was thoroughly saturated
with the circus atmosphere. There was
great rafting of dry bones In editorial
sanctums as veterans of the pencil recall
ed the joys of their youth with the re-
suit that the next day the circus was
given editorial dignity and every other
paragraph In the esteemed Atlanta Jour-
nal was either a felicitation on the show
as whole or a merry quib at the clowns
expense. And all was due to the magic
spell woven over young and old by the
circus. VIII the time ever come when
clowns will cease to be amusing. when
the glorious glittering pageant will no
longer ravish the eye, when the blare
of the bands and the roar of the man
eating lions will fail to awaken a re-
sponsive thrill in every hearth It is to be
hoped not.
Far be 1t from all right thinking per-
sons to- regret the fate which Is melted
out to villains on the stage. The gallery
god is right In cheering the denoument
when the heros enemies are crushed to
earth forever and happiness fairly per-
meates the atmosphere but the average
melodrama is apt to create a wrong i'm
preston in the minds of the young. 1t
is all right to punish the villains. because
most Of them deserve 1t, either at the
hands Of the playwright or the audience,
but as a matter of fact plays do not all
stick to the truth. While villains invaria-
bly, get their just deserts on the stage a
great many go scot free in real life I'M
til, perchance they pass hence to a land
where we are taught that the climate is
warmer. Now and then, for variety's sake
stage villain might be permitted TO
escape and be prosperous without re-
forming merely to give a dash of real
ism. There are so many prosperous VII
lains IN the world that the stage VIII
lain who is invariably punished, at times
appears unreal. Give the stage villain a
chance.
October 10 Is to- be Alabama day at the
fair. The people of the state win prob
ably unite in making this an suspicious
occasion In the history of the greatest
show ever thrown open to the public.
Alabama has been rather backward In
putting herself forward at st. Louis and
Alabama day is her last chance to re-
deem herself. Next month will be de-
lightful in the fair town, the crowds will
be immense and there is no reason why
an army of patriotic Alabanians should
not be in evidence on the appointed day.
1t Is reported that Vulcan languishes fof
a glimpse of a familiar face some times,
when visitors are few and the state
should send a host of citizens to keep
him company October 10.