The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-16

6 HE tendency of mossbaek jokes to NY be revived when least expected
 has been the subject of many dis eussions' both humorous and grave, but It Is fact that the manufacture of Jokes IS like all other human undertakings-it has it's limitations. It is really astonish- ing how often and how frequently the same jokes will turn Up in the best class Of publications. For instance, there is the old story of 'the horse blew first" when an Irishman was trying to admin ister a dose of physic to his steed by blowing some powder down the animals throat with a quill and the horse sneezed about the same time he began to blow Now that was very good joke in it's day. In fact the "sneezed first" joke is one of the best we have in stock when it is told properly, but 1t Is so old and has been related so often that 1t Is hoary with age and it would seem that the public in general is we'll acquainted with it's startling denoument. Yet in a recent is- sue of a New York paper of eminent re- spectability this same aged wittcsm is related with all the sincerity and naivete that marked it in the first telling. More- over, 1t was a Sunday issue, which Is SUD- posed to represent the best efforts of both editorial and reportorial staff.
 Similarly there are other jokes without number that have way of finding their way into print, either in their original form or disguised, in most persistent manner. Not only do jokes possess this quality, but 1t is noticeable that many of the feature stories" we read in news papers and periodicals are the same old things told in a different way For in- stance there will be an interesting and vivid account of life in Peru or some other South American republic, when such articles have been appearing at stated intervals ever since the country was discovered. Stories of Paris are never ending, London furnishes great murder mystery or robbery when called upon, the arctic and antarctic regions are unfailing sources of inspiration for seien- tific dreamers, while every country in the world is written up from time to time, in regular succession that is sell dom interrupted. Such state of af- fairs would lead one to believe that there is nothing new under the sun after all, but that is a mistake Each article about Peru is written from different point of view and is therefore always fresh and original.
 A certain young woman well known in the theatrical world of Gotham has just issued a challenge to duel with swords with any woman who has taken part in a Broadway product this season. The challenger Is herself a skillful fencer and desires to discover if she has any rival on the boards. The contest will be unique from the fact that it will be a contest be- tween stage fencers and women at that. Here of late years much attention has been given to the art of handling a sword or foil gracefully on the stage. The old way of permitting the hero to clash swords with the villain in very perfume tory and cautious manner is passing very apt to bring out trained fencers who thrust and parry with all the fire that once characterized real affairs of honor. That is what the public wants. Realism Is the goal of all theatrical managers and no cost is spared in attain ing it. The result has been to elevate the stage duel from a farce to a very creditable exhibition of swordsmanship, and even the chorus girls are now learn ing to handle a rapier with veteran skill.