The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-26
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

~ LFRED AUSTIN'S complaint that
V1 there is a growing distaste for
good poetry among the people of
today offers suggestions for some inter-
esting speculation. No one attempts to
deny that his statement is correct IN
every particular. The man who goes
about nowadays with a book of verse
stuck under his arm or in his pocket,
which he reads and which commands
rapt attention whenever opportunity ar
fords, is justly regarded as fool, be-
| cause he is sure to be run over by a
trolley car Then when at home, which
is seldom during evening, neither the
majority of American nor English peo-
pie display any avldity to peruse the
works of great masters. OF course Mr..
Austin's own productions are not be-
| ing considered. He could not blame the
public for reneging when such a lyric
feast is offered up. 1t is Milton, Ho-
mer. and Dante who are neglected, while
even modern slush is read far less than
most people suppose.
Perhaps the newspaper poet has some
rate he makes no pretensions to relation
with the muse and often originates a
bright little jingle, which makes life bet
ter. OF course this is not poetry. 1t Is
just rhyme, with a dash of humor,
bit of sarcasm, and maybe the merest
hint of pathos. The newspaper poet Is all
right in his way and the satisfying fea-
/ ft.ra Of n lie bat he
fact and does not try to intrude where
he does not belong. The magazine poet
so closely resembles the newspaper bard
that there is really very little distinc-
ton. However the majority of modern
poetasters who aspire to books of verse
are execrable. 1t is not these who are
neglected so much as the real poets, who
are now unfortunately dead. There Is
no doubt that we all need a thorough
reading course in the works of great
poets but whether this will be brought
about through the efforts of Mr.. Austin
is doubtful.
Prof. Hermann Gunkel. of Berlin, says
there was nothing at all miraculous
about Mount Sinai, and the flames which
awed Moses came from a volcano. This
looks like lot of responsibility for one
lone German to shoulder.
A church at Jacobs Creek, Pa, bud
ding metropolis which is conspicuousiy alb
sent from the map, has issued decree
that all brethren who hope for eternal
salvation must discard mustaches. AS a
result there is serious danger of a disrup-
ton, inasmuch as the fair sex has also
been requested not to wear fine clothes,
jewery, or other unnecessary adornment.
Although professors of hygiene have said
for some time past that the mustache
was unnecessary and unsanitay it has
never heretofore been regarded as a bar
to salvation. Boards, COATES, Van Dykes,
sideburns, and plain whiskers are not
mentioned, but it is to be supposed that
the sweeping edict against mustaches COW
ers all of these Mustaches are going
out of style, anyway, and if this church
had been cotent to wait awhile Dame
Fashion would have done the work which
the congregation hopes to do by means
of a decree Since some one limited that
man with clean shaver face looked
much stronger and more intellectual than
the man with mustache the latter has
been disappearing with conspicuous rapid
ity. No doubt 1t would be a fine thing
for public health if there were no mus
taches, but for church to begin cru
SADIE against them seems rather out of
place.
There is a distinction between riding to
hounds and going to the dogs.
| The year 1904 will be memorable in the