The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-15
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

lne appalling cOno1p1onB or tne IaIne Tn England are no doubt extremely interest ing the general public would prefer to have him wander of again Ninto those realms of imagination and fantasy where he has achieved such success in the past In spite of the fact that Haggardis books are not literature in the generally ac- cepted sense of the word there are few people who have not yielded to the temp tation to follow the fortunss of Allan Quarternain or seek to unravei the mys- tery of "She.''
 In. some communities indignant protests are being made against the promiscuous whistler who assails the ear with a hor- rdble discord of so-called popular tunes at all hours of the day and night But protests have no effect on such gentry If the average whistler could whistle a tune with taste and feeling it would not be so bad Good whistling is very pleasing to the ear sometimes. but when a youth cleaves the morning air at 4:3O a. m. with a miscellaneous assortment of "BedelIa,'' 'eHiawatha~' Sammy and ''Mr. Dooley'' it is enough to make conservative citizens swear.
 
 While discussing music from a lay mans point of view it would not be aniss to make few remarks concerning the automatic music box, the automatic piano, the electric phenomenon that takes the place of $10,000 orchestra and nu- merous other mechanical freaks that make life miserable for humanity in the Ea1f r. fa ha rhn season for these monstrosities. and when blushing June has made her bow to an expectant world one may soon after hear the discordant strains of me chanical musical instruments rising from all parts of the land. A hand organ can be excused some times, for 1t is not very obtrusive, except at close quarters. and 1t is possible to escape its annoyance by walking a few blocks down the street, but there is no escape from the large mechanical melody makers. In saloons, in museums, in lollypop resorts, on the streets, in all kinds of stores, in public places. in the parks, on the, Pike and everywhere people congregate there is the mechanical orchestra sounding out tunes with the provoking assiduity of an Italian virtuoso. The worst feature of these contrivances Is that few of them ever succeed in producing anything but horrible discord. Hssss
 The country editor is taking advantage of the dull season to see the fair. Laying down his editorial pencil and conigning his establishment to the office boy, he wends his way to St. Louis with the as- sistance of a railroad pass, where he sees the Pike and gets enough impress sions to last him life time. On his re- turn he regales his readers with accounts, humorous and otherwise, of what he saw. The average country editor has bliss full time and is justly the envy of less fortunate mortals who do not know how to do anything but make money.
 It is gratifying to note that the at tendance at the St. Louis fair is reported to be increasing. Although the future does not yet show a rainbow of promise to those who have invested money in the exposition there is plenty of time for the gate receipts to swell The fair has barely started and by next December the ledger may be more evenly balanced. It is said that one-half of the attendance at the fair is now composed of dead heads who come in on passes The pass business seems to have been worked to the limit in St. Louis, although when there is such big show there are sure to be many people who think they are en- titled to see the sights for nothing.
 P. c.