The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-04
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
MATTERS OF THE WORLD

you cannot write fiction, and the more i'm
agination you possess the better will be
your stories. Second, you must have a
vocabulary, and third. you must know
construction. Imagination cannot be az
quired but the other two may be learned
Imagination, the power to create. n
dream to project pictures from your
brain upon a broad canvas so that less
fortunate mortals may have some con-
ception of their beauty, is inherited
genius. vocabulary may be acquired In
very simple way-by hard and tedious
work Under a knowledge of CONSTITUTE
ton may be grouped what is known as
style, writer's individuality of express
sion' and the mechanical skill necessary to
shape sentences that shall be graceful ana
expressive. The mere art of writing mas
become one of the most mechanical opera
lions. The newspaper worker who grounds
out his allotted share of copy each dav
realizes the truth of this statement Al
most any person of fair education can
string sentences together but it is an
entirely different matter to turn out real
literature"
II there is not an exodus of walters por-
tiers, bootblacks and other dgnitaries of
this class from the state of Wisconsin, II
VIII be surprising. The anti-graft law
threatens to play havoc with perouisites
that have heretofore been essential to
people in many walks of life. Say what
you please, 1t cannot be denied that the
average waiter would suffer were it nor
for the tips he receives The law is not
pd at he to
that we confer on the bootbaclx and the
porter, but If strictly inforced it would
cut down their revenues also. The Wiscon-
sin measure is the most sweeping blow
that has yet been aimed at grating.
Modjeska is another famous ''star" who
does not believe the national theatre
practicable. Under present conditions she
sees nothing to encourage such an instf-
tuition and no likelihood of its being sun
ported were it established. The trouble is
not in getting national theatre built and
made ready for the public. Maintenance
is the rub. The star system and the
present situation of the theatrical bus
mess in this country inspire little hope for
the future of the national theatre 1t
would be an easy matter for one of our
milionaires to erect a national theatre
and endow it, but his troubles would be-
gin with the players. Just such an in
stitution, however much to be desired, is
a long way off.
William Randolph Hearst has bought
the Cosmopolitan magazine from John
Brisbane Walker, according to report
The Cosmopolitan is one of the best and
most readable magazines published in the
United States. 1t is to be hoped that Mr.
Hearst will not endeavor to introduce
any sensational journalistic methods in its
management Frank A. Munsey, the
Hearst of magazinedom, has tried his
luck with journalism and now it appears
that Mr.. Hearst will invade Mr. Munsey's
chosen field.
rubber collar has been invented which
is guaranteed not to explode. The fact
that it is harmless will not lessen the
culpability of the man who wears such
apparel.
VOTES FOR ANDY
Said DIR. Philpotts to his class,
With a deal of condescension,
Instead of taking chloroform
think I'll take a pension.
PAUL COOK