The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-23
OLONEL MANN is a friend of
 mine and so, when a solicitor came to me for a subscription

H =
 'S mine and sO' when solicitor
 O came to me for a subscription to the book l gave the money; not be- cause I particularly wanted the book, but because 1 thought it would help out my old friend, Colonel Mann. The man who came to me had q letter from Mr. Wayne. He talked to me about the book. l did not care about it, and said to the solicitor that it was not in my opinion worth s5oo The solicitor said he did not suppose the book was worth $500, but that it would help us out In order to help out. and because, as I have already explained, l wanted to help my friend, Colonel Mann, gave the money for the book"
 Thus does Theodore P. Shonts explain why his name is on the list of those who subscribed to "Fads and Fancies,' an exploitation of the elite, for which Town Topics stands sponsor Worthy MT. Shonts! He did not have a hankering to see his name and picture in the book especially; he just wanted to help out his friend, Colonel Mann, who is the owner of "Town Topics." Therefore, with smile of Reubenistical benevolence he "coughed up $500. And he paid this sum for one l book-a single volume. to be filled with pictures of smrking milionaires sedate statesmen" and the real somebody's in 1 society, while a set of poor old Shake speare's works can be purchased for few ''simoleons." Of course there was no vanity, away down under his vest, that prompted MT. Shonts to this generosity. Like Chauncey M. Depew, Perry Belmont, John Jacob Aster and a few others he wanted to aid the cause of literature. This comical attempt at self-defense comes from the astute chairman of the Panama canal commission, man who has al- ways been known as hustler and d 1 fighter If all the other subscribers were to explain why they swallowed the bait to feed their vanity we would indeed have a merry time.
 It is now feared that Thomas W. Law son may try to eater politics. Conserva- l tive and timorous persons are speculating as to whether all this present noise is the forerunner of a political boom of some
 sort or merely the result of Lawsons strenuous organization. Howeved, there Is not at present an office in the country that MT. Lawson would find suited to his l talents, so far as the political plums go. He would be No. 1 as a circus poster
 writer and press agent; he would be scream in the advertising business, and as sideshow "spieler' would not be half
 bad. but as for being governor or congressman that Is another matter Uncle Sam has nothing on hand just now adapted to the peculiar temperamental obliquities of MT. Lawsons character. | Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roose- welt were also asked to contribute $500 each to "Fads and Fancies,' but there is no evidence to show that they complied l "Bill. come home Little Bella is sick | Marie" This is only one of many brief
 advertisements found in that part of newspapers devoted to Wants" and all | those othe curious announcements class I ed by printers as 'cheap columns" yet | the pathetic appeal suggests story of
 sadness and domestic infelicity too often
 met with in a city. Most of the want ad- vtrtisements are commonplace some are | qddiiit anu tuliouSs OtnciS illluly lIltTtSt- ing and still others re-echo the heart
 throbs of humanity. telling of suffering,
 misery and despair. Often have deserted wives and sorrowing mothers resorted
 to the columns of the newspapers in the hope that some trace of missing ones
 might be found. ''Bilr' may not have
 seen the message of Marie" but if he 1 did and failed to hasten to the bedside | of little Bella' he had a heart of
 stone.
 A 15-year- hero rescued a child from
 drowning. When asked his name he re- | piled, "Oh, go on, don't war my name | in no paper. Cut 1t out. That's nothing I Cut it out. Ferget it." His English was
 not choice but his heart is in the right
 place. Prospective heroes please take mo- l tice.
 | It now appears that the good things | capable of giving Senator Depew most | satisfaction were not his bon mots but | his directorships. A gentleman who holds | seventy-two jobs with a salary but no
 work attachment can afford to jest right
 merrily.
 Engineer Wallace may not die famous
 man but he has the satisfaction of know | ing that his bread is well buttered.
 Talladega luxuriates in the strains of | her first electric piano. It seems that the
 people are delighted and can't get their "flr' of the instruments dulcet manu- facture. Of course it is all right for Talla- dega to felicitate herself on such a mu-
 sical acquisition and the state is proud that she takes such a lively interest in 1 one of the most noble gifts of the muses,
 but the dear old town should beware. Itinerant Italians are apt to jurrn at the conclusion that inasmuch as an cleo tric piano is hailed with acclaim, hand
 power organs will be equally welcome.