The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-18
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

x ES." unused the veteran globe
 kkSH trotter who had face that
 showed heavy lines, T have heard of the strange influence exerted by music over the minds of susceptible per sons. In fact, recall vlvidly a case that came under my obser- vation. In 1888 landed in Mex leo City and struck up with a young chap who, like myself. had seen better days, but had permitted the wan derlust to get the better of him. We soon became quite chummy Haskell was lovable fellow, one of those amiable spirits who exercise an almost irresistible fascination over persons with whom they come in contact. It was not long be- fore l discovered that Haskell was very much to the bad. He had become en- tangled with a stunning girl in the town who was almost pure Spanish and had inherited the worse traits of that race. along with the marvellous and subtle beauty which often characterizes the women of old Spain. In a few words, the girl was a she-dev1. Haskell spent hours in her company drumming a quaint Spanish air on his guitar.
 
 "As soon as the girl had become con vinced that Haskell had no more money to spend on her she dropped him like a hot brick andN disappeared. I was not surprised. thought Haskell never would straighten up after that, but he gradually came around, looking more like a ghost than man. When he had sufficiently recovered from his debauch we left Mexico City and went to Fl Paso where we hit some of the games with indif- ferent success. Haskell was very quiet and never referred to his Spanish enam- oraita, but after an unusually moody spell he would take up his guitar and strum the air that he had often play ed to his sweetheart in Mexico. It was love song. pulsating with the slow. languorous fire of the south, a sensuous cadence in every note. It was music to wake the devil In man and make him sheer at destiny while draining his | glass to the last drop.
 Well, we stayed in Fl Paso a month or two. Haskell kept getting worse all the time. l had fully made up my mind to shake him when a tragedy occurred in the Lone Star saloon one night that put end to his unhappy career. We were standing at the bar drinking when several Mexican musicians in the rear of the room struck up the tune with which I had become so familiar. I mo- ticed Haskell start A look of mingled triumph and contempt flashed across HIS face and a dangerous fire began to smoul- der in his eyes. He set down his glass with crash and seized a dice box | from the bartender. Deuce, I win; tray l lose! he cried, with harsh laugh The crowd watched him cautiously. He | rolled the dice several times. Tray, it is! I lose!' Then before the crowd knew what was happening Haskell jerked revolver from his hip pocket and sent | bullet through his brain As his body struck the floor heavily the Mexcans played on, indifferent to the tragedy Their music haunts me yet
 | General Joseph l.. Bristow has quit Washington to engage in newspaper work in Kansas. The generals "nose for news" l was no doubt highly developed during his investigation of the postoffice scan dals.
 MT. Jim Jeffries, out well-known pugi- list, is thinking of going into the hotel | business
 | The inevitable professor propounds a | few questions which he declares ought to be asked of every student before he | receives his bachelor degree at college Perhaps the most absurd question in the