The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-15
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

gala days. and he did not raise his voice to his fellows when the contribution plate was being passed. He contributed of his store and said nothing He was neither a "lxnocker' for the public veal nor a "booster' for private gain. He was a modest man and always did what he thought was right, regardless of the push" For many years he toiled in vain to scale the heights. and finally realized that he could not win his goal without stepladder. Wisdom had come to him at last straightway he broke into print" ran for office, joined pro gressive" church, cried out for reform in many departments, posed as a prom inent citizen" and always made a noise when he thought it would help. Now he is an opulent, megalophonous. megalo- cephalic masticator of political pie and lives an automobile life.
 A wealthy man has just paid $20,Go0 for a carnation, yet the lowly violet that blooms along the hedge is sweeter, and its modest beauty can be enjoyed without cost. The rich may exploit their extrav- agance with priceless orchids and the
  but after all the flower that can be had for a trihe: that blooms in rare old gar dens and lights up simple lives may give more real pleasure. Buying flowers is like buying happiness. It is not always the price that counts.
 collar valued at $10,000 has been found among the jewels of Mrs. Cassie L. Chadwick of Ohio. Ordinary mortals who get along on plain silk, linen and celluloid neckwear may be excused a pang of envy, but it is not every woman who can be a Cassie Chadwick. From them who hath it shall be taken away" Mrs. Chadwick knew this and in knowing how to take 1t away she demonstrated her superiority over commonplace females.
 At least pugilists on the stage have one advantage over their fellow Thespians who have never competed for honors in the ring. The grouchy critic who habi- tually wears a suit of knocking clothes will not rush Into verbal "roasts" so readily when he reflects that the sub ject of his remarks has held his own in many a gory bout and will not permit a
 
 to forget how to use his fists. The fact that Messrs. Corbett and Jeffries are everywhere accorded distinguished con- sideration In melodrama puts the dra- matic critic in very bad light Every body knows that these husky gentry can not act but every one knows they can fight and who will be the first to remind them of their limitations?
 At last we are to have music cures for human ills. The National Society of Musical Therapeutics has set It's foot down and all that we have to do Is to simply wait until musical pills can be compounded. It is argued that slow music and ragtime constitute the panacea that patent medicine advertisers have been looking for so long, Heretofore certain kinds of music have been known to make certain kinds of individuals very il-tempered but the idea that curative and restorative properties turk in such compositions as "Bedelia," Tn the Good Old Summer Time and Down Where the Wurtzburger Flows is positively shocking to esthetic temperaments. A dose of bad medicine is bad enough but dose of bad music ought to be consider ably worse.
 The question has often been asked, When will the modern stage miracles cease?" It Is a far cry from the bare boards of Shakespeares time to the law ish display of scienic and "costumic' beauties that dazzle the eyes of the mod ern theatregoer. but the end is not yet. Not only are new creations of the scenry builder and painter being evolved every day but the mechanical genius of experts is at work to 3tartle and to mystify. Whereas In olden times a few shot rolled about on the top of drum were deemed sufficient to create the impression that a rain storm was raging, nowadays real water pours down from the scenic heavens and people out of doors get thorough soaking. Water Is. however, no novelty on the stage in these progress sive times and what the mechanical ex- pert has not been able to accomplish the electrician has solved for him. The mod ern stage spectacle would be dreary in- deed were it not for that marvellous fluid that Ben Franklin drew from the clouds with his key. The debt that the stage owes to electricity is almost as great as the debt 1t owes to the worlds great dramatists. PAUL COOK.