The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-07
COMMENTS ON MEN AND !
MATTERS OF THE WORE

IN ow that the tenth anniversary Of
III the death of Robert Louis
Stevenson has passed critics and
literateurs are enabled to Judge of his
hold on the readers of today; they can
see now whether his books will live and
whether one of the most delightful story
tellers Of the age is destined to be for
gotten. Ten years is long enough to Judge
whether any authors works will live and
the books of Robert Louis Stevenson
have stood the test admirably. Treasure
Island" one Of the most fascinating
stories ever told to youth; 1.-The Merry
Men," DIR. Jel5yl and Mr.. Hyde" The
Master of Ballantrae" 'Markheim,"
"olalla" and all his other exquisite stories
under the caption of Modern Arabian
Nights" are as eagerly read today as
when they first won popularity. The In
fictitious OPTIMISM the courageous spirit
and the quick Imagination that character
ICES all that Stevenson wrote, as well as
those little tricks of style and the pol
ished low of language that distinguished
him, make any of his stories worth
while, although 1t must be confessed that
some are better than others. 1t is good
to know that there is no diminuton in
the popularity of the Stevenson books
Ten years, twenty years hence they will
still be source of delight.
Governor Pennypacker has again broken
bounds and appears determined to muz-
zle the newspapers of Pennsylvania The
little experiences of his first attempt
have clearly failed to teach him a lesson
or perhaps their beneficial effect has
worn off. At any rate the Governor has
again set the machinery in motion with
which he proposes to bring the Pennsyl-
vania newspapers to terms as regards
"lambasts" by cartoons and editorials
Before he gets through he will be very
tired Pennypacker.
An Ohio woman was instantly granted
divorce on the ground of cruelty when
she informed the court that her husband
had forced her to move forty-three times
In nine years. A little figuring will show
that the plaintiff moved at the rate of
very nearly five times a year. She prob
dpiy never Hdu IL Iedlly HAPPY nome. 1t
takes the average woman at least three
months to get settled in one place. so
that the tumultuous existence endured by
this unfortunate woman can readily be
imagined.
very wise note has just been sounded
which calls attention to the fact that
while jiu jitsu Is most valuable science
of self-defense and one that affords pro-
lection without the use Of firearms, it
also has its harmful possibilities. There
are certain fatal touches by which the
trained exponent of jiu jitsu can snuff out
the life of an adversary quite as easily
as the trick could be done with a pistol
or knife and in the hands of criminals
the science might work untold harm. In
Japan the plea is made that the fatal
touches are taught only to persons who
are known to be of good character and
will not abuse the power given them, but
such would not be the case in this coun-
try IL jiu jitsu should spread to any ex-
tent. The criminal and lawless element
might find trick that can place a VIC
tim at their mercy in the twinkling of an
eye very valuable in their evil practices.