The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-17
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

1t is to be found In the bosom Of Kansas
whiskers twister rather than In Wash
ington There is nothing sad about Iron
quilts" hegira from the capital. He is
glad to go-so glad to go. In fact, that
his friends fear his native exuberance of
spirits will overcome him before the por-
tails of Topeka are reached Perhaps,
after all. the life Of pension commissioner
at Washington is not to be compared for
real joy TO a cyclone ridden existence on
the plains of Kansas.
Some very choice disclosures are being
made just now in regard to the mystic
ries of the Mormon church. Thus far
1t is rather hard to decide whether the
Mormon ritual is more impressive than
the initiation of a lodge where there is
a real goat, or more blood-curdling than
the Ku-Klux obligations that are no long
er popular The senate committees in
designations of Reed Shoots qualifica-
tions as a United States senator is the
most interesting affair of the kind that
has been held In Washington IN long,
long time. Like a great many other
secrets that inspire dread when kept in
violate, the Mormon mysteries will lose
much of their power to influence weak
minds by having the veil torn away.
A certain Henry Eliza Agar, who has
just been elected member of the In
diana state legislature, has a few
schemes for new laws that are already
getting him talked about. In the first
place he would place a tax Of 10 cents
on each 500 earned by able-bodied bach
elors over So years of age who receive
an income of more than $1,000 annually.
He would also pass a law to prevent
men from treating at bar and he
has other plans when these are con-
summated. The idea of taxing bachelors
seems to be a popular one at present,
and is not original with the Hon. Henry
Eliza Agar. He is also not the first per-
son who has objected to the practice of
Setting EN- up" What Mr.. Agar really
ought to do is to put tax ON the In
diana novel so heavy that few of the
species will escape into the literary
world. This would be favored by the
harmless bachelors and tipsters of the
state and would be immensely popular in
the country at large.
Among the popular" Christmas pres
ents that are acceptable at this time of
the year is a pardon for the man who
langushes In prison. In real life Moth
ing brings more Joy than executive Glenn
ency Of this character, while in those
melodramas of genuine heart interest
what is more tear-compelling than
pardon that arrives for the innocent hero,
who has been thrown into prison through
the Vaccinations of the villain, on
Christmas eve, during a great snow
storm and gives the little golden-haired
girl an opportunity to say something
pious while the mother sobs out her
thanksgiving on the cold steps of the
jaol? And in Christmas stories the par
don also plays a conspicuous part, for
It always comes just at the proper
psychological moment when the readers
interest is keyed up" to the proper ten
sion and he is ready for tears or laugh
ter. What a calamity 1t would be if
one of these melodrama pardons should
arrive the day after Christmas instead of
the day beforel 1t would be little less
than crushing. p. C.