The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-25
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

of refuge and driving dumb animals to the most convenient shelter. At night inc rain rushes down noisily, it's roar sounding like the rumble of an express train. Yet even when the storm is at it's height it is sweet to sit by blazing hearth. where peace and plenty reign. and think of the poor devils who must be out in this" The rain is now f~e thing of the wind while the Ice KlB converts 1t into sleet and snow. But always 1t exercises a mysterious power over the mind whether in gentle or an- gry mood. Great thoughts have been born to the every-varying music of the fan.
 It is amusing to note the discussions that men, both great and small, have over tobacco. Stages. poets and philoso- phers have each paid the weed their portion of censure or praise. Books have been written on the subject and My Lady Nicotine has inspired many poems, but the old controversy continues right mer- rily. Where one condemns another de- fends, so the battle rages. Even medi- cal science has its differences of opinion. while solons have attempted to restrict the enjoyment of tobacco by vulgar laws. The secret of ultimate happiness may not be found in the smoke rings curling up from a pipe, but, in the lan- guage of Timothy Smiles. ''it helps some.'
 Mr. Roosevelt denies the soft impeach- ment that he promised to accept copy  of rFads and Fancies.
 A Chicago girl burned herself to death because she could not marry an English nobleman. Perhaps, after all, she acted for the best.
 A California judge has decided that no man can drink 5000 glasses of whisky in ten years and still remain good hus- band Unless the gentleman in question has superb capacity there is no reason to believe that the judge made an erro- neous decision.
 The painful spectacle of Mrs. Chadwick climbing chairs in her cell and scream ing vociferously at the daily visits of rat is reported from Cleveland. It is hard to realize that Mrs. Chadwick sue cumbs to a rat when bankers were so easy, but we must remember that while she is Mrs. Chadwick sine is stiil wo- man. The distinguished hypnotist and financieress has been promised rat trap.
 
 IN COTTON FOR EXAMPLE. The man behind th, Eun Is great
 And the man behind the dough-
 And the man who stays behind to let
 His weaker comrades go.
 But the man behind who causes talk.
 Of whom we like to speak.
 Is the man behind--of course, you know
 The man behind the leak.
 Whether the advent of machne-made pies means much for the cause of indi- gestion is a question. At first glance they appear terrifying to persons with weak stomachs, but there is no reason why machine pastry should not prove even less deadly than the Incomparable mas terpieces that mother used to make. At any rate, machine-made pies mean whole lot to the pie business. RAG TIME AT THE POLE.
 (News note: Commander Peary's arc- tic exploring ship. the Roosevelt. is equipped with a pianola and will dis course popular airs while the vessel is searching for the north pole5 Will it be "Bedelia." now, The Esqumaux will hear When Peary breasts the Arctic ice And to the pole draws near? A bit of ragtime would, no doubt. Be hailed with joyful cries By people who have never heard song of "Goo-Goo Eyes" Now wouldn't Sammy take the cake-<
 Of course the cake of ice And wouldn't Teasing" win them now, Or Billie" in a trice? | The lubber boys will have a time The best they've ever had l Just listening to the music played; 1 They'll never know it's bad. It would not be surprising if | The polar bears succumb 1 Unless the snow and ice put | That piano on the bunb. % PAUL COOK