The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-07
HEALTHFUL PURSUIT

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 H OOKISH persons sometimes say N that newspaper reading is bad
 @~ habit because those who become constant readers of the news develop an appetite for news at the expense or taste for literature. Narrow, indeed l is the reader who is content with noth- ing but news and perhaps he is also rare' But the press must plead guilty to the charge of providing many snapshots or | life that have in them every element or the thrilling novel or short story save
 the padding.
 Mystery surrounds the disappearance of many trinkets and good deal of
 money at Sea Cliff, Long Island settle ment more or less pretentious socially, and more or less exclusive because Of the cost of living. It is found that a young matron, the belle of the married set' and congenial companion, the beau
 of many belles, married and single. have
 been practicing burglary to raise funds with which to frequent tango resorts in
 New York. Here is quite s much Of a story as is contained in any one or a half dozen dramas of temptation such as filled the theatres a few. years ago. Clothe the skeleton of the story as you like according to your bent Sympath1ze with a belle who did not marry money, but badly needed it, and with very young man who loved adventure for it's excitement and you have "rhe Social Highwayman' eclipsed by story With two sociable burglars, between whom, It seems the need of money and perfect agreement as to how to get it was the bond; no love affair existed, Rallies and a girl partner who is not an adventures | in the commonly accepted meaning of the term, but merely trimly built "Missus" of 21, who finds 1t great fun to climb porch columns at o'clock in the morn | ing and stealthily remove jewel trays and pocket change from homes well pro- vided with firearms. risking both life and
 reputation, has Rallies by himself beat
 hands down." The writer of best sell
 lers, or scenarios for moving picture
 drama would make thriller of the facts l in the case. Strndberg might make of 1t
 gloomy four-act drama. depicting the
 decadent young woman of the period,
 neurotic, yet not erotic, finding a greater thrill in crime than in a mere affair "
 The author of '"rhe Thief''-popular few years ago in the theatre-might by a
 stroke of the pen make the young burg
 laress a devoted wife, ambitious td re-
 tain husband s admiration by being we'll gowned. The great advantage of the
 stories from real life as they are found in
 news columns is that you need not accept
 the views of this that author as to the
 motives impelling the hero or heroine. or the meaning of,the drama of individuality.
 You may do your own padding and reach your own conclusions.
 A young man pops the question" to a I Washington girl whose parents are
 wealthy and socially well placed. The customary inquiries are made concernins his character and antecedents. He is
 found unexceptionable ana tho match is sanctioned. and in due course. there is a wedding. with the customary formalitiei and frills Six months later the young
 man kisses his bride good-by and makes
 a secret trip to Pittsburg to murder his father-in-law in the hope of getting pos
 session of his wealth. The victim of a murderous assault escapes death and for
 . tims refusss to believe that the man