The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-21
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

N RATHER interesting discussion WV has been started by the New
 York Herald in regard to what is termed the etiquette of the cigar" 1t seems that in Spanish-Amercan coun- tries the gentleman who lights his own cigar without first offering a light to his companion is deemed very impolite but in this country it is question whether gentleman should light his own cigar first, thus inhaling the sulphurous fumes of the match and permitting it to become thor oughly ignited, or whether he should do the reverse. At best lighting a cigar out of doors is a ticklish business, and it takes an adept to do the trick with any success. This very fact will probably keep many of the fair sex from smoking on the streets. But the mere matter of get ting a light would not trouble sticBlers for etiquette if the rules of polite so- ciety would require that a gentleman" invariably present his friend with as good a cigar as he smokes himself. The man who palms off Christmas present cigars on his acquaintances is guilty of a mean trick.
 '"rhe European plan steamship seems to be a possibility of the very near future. Already grill rooms have become feat ures of certain vessels of the Hamburg American line, but it is announced that the scheme will be carried out more com pletely on the new liner of this company that is now in course of construction When this vessel Is completed it will have a fully equipped restaurant" and the man who takes passage across the water can pay for his cabin or stateroom and eat only when he feels like it. Such an arrangement will prove boon for in- dlviduals who are subject to seasickness and have heretofore paid for meals while on board that they were unable to eat A steamship conducted on the European plan ought to bring about still further reduction in fares, but the greatest ad- vantage to be derived will be that the passenger who misses a meal will have the satisfaction of knowing that he has at least saved its price.
 Lillian Russell has signed a contract Wltn .. D. oHuDerl to SlflS III cOHllc opera under his management for five years. During that time the fair Lillian will be paid a matter of 5000 a week, or $60,0O0 for a season of thirty weeks It was ru- mored that Miss Russell had turned down an offer of similar proportions several | days ago, but the contract is a reality now, and her hesitancy Is at an end. The | sum that Miss Russell will draw for thirty weeks labor will be s10,000 more than the President of the United States receives for his annual stipend. By the hour, Miss Russell will be paid something like $95.53, which is certainly worth while. All this shows that 1t pays to be comic opera queen, and that there will be no danger of Lillian Russell not being able to pay her board bills for the next five years. Madame Schuman- -Heinls, the mother of nine, is said to draw $500 a week, but Miss Russell goes her $500 bet ter.
 While festive college girls are reported to be indulging in little pranks at the expense of new students that are certain ly not brutal but are at best trifle peculiar, the young man who is thinking about marrying one of these gentle haz- CTS may we'll hesitate. If they can make matters so warm for girl freshmen the