The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-19

MA1 AktttA 4N9 out tne sohhd aha kS. sensible policy which has charae- \ terlzed the Lewis and Clark ex- position from its inception, the manage ment has announced that the gates and exposition palaces of the fair will be thrown open to the public on Sundays. This decision will meet with general fa- vor, especially among the people who were barred out at st. Louis and forced to spend one or more very tedious Sun days with nothing to do in a town not exceptionally interesting. Of course con- servative folk will have none of The Trail on the Sabbath day, but it can cer- ta.nly do no moral harm to permit visi- tors to study the various exhibits and then, too, it must be considered that the increase in the gate receipts will be very large. Thus far, the ability with which the Portland show has been man. aged challenges the admiration of even those pesslmists who declare that we have had enough big fairs.
 Another man has been found dead in that ominous Room 13" And so the story goes. It Is not because so many tragedies happen on the thirtee day of the month aL in Room 13 that makes this number of such evil omen, but the fact that every time any thing unusual does happen which can be associated with this number by imaginative persons the news is straightway sent flying to the four quarters of the world. It is quite likely that as many deaths occur In 4 I.. 1 nifcance is attached to the former num- ber while the latter is on the tip uf every one's tongue. Our superstitions are largely what we make them and the chances are that if we thought the num- Der IA malignant in It's tendencies we would have no trouble In finding enough proof of its fatal influence to build our fears upon.
 The harvest of death goes surely on in New York and Chicago. Grip, pneu- monia and consumption are numbering many victims among the poor. It is good to live in the sunny south where win ter's fercest mood Is but a frown and there is none of that congestion of hu- manity which puts q blot on the large eastern fcenters of population.
 Certain critics about town have com plained that Ben Hur' was not well acted and the performance as a whole was much inferior to that given here two years ago. While there Is some founda- tion for their opinion great many peo- pie forget that Ben Hur" is not a play acted o1t elaborate scenic mounting for effect and pretends to be nothing more than a stage spectacle. To be sure, 1t would help mat ters immensely to have persons play the various roles who not only look the parts but are able to imbue them with some life, but surely no just criticism could be made of the staging or the manner in which each of the ''sets" was handled at the Jefferson theatre. TAe superb climax Of the production, the chariot race, is cer- tainly much more effectife than it was before. It would be hard to improve upon the realism of this scene, save to so ar range the wings that a stationary wall would not be opposed to one that the chariots are supposed to be speeding by at terrific pace. One thing is certain. 1t Is not the people who saw Ben Hur'' for the first time this week who are doing the carping. It is easy enough to pick flaws when ones enthusiasm is gone and the novelty of the production Is worn off by repetition.
 It Is a pretty sight to see a white headed cavalier of the old south display an unconscious gallantry in public places. What though younger men may smile when he stands with head barred to raw wind while he passes few common