The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-28
AIabanaa s Oil Town

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 AIabarna's Oil Town
 Now Has Newspaper .NNTITH the discovery of oil at
 WV Cordova, new paper sprang into being, the Alabama Oil Bulle- tin, which made its appearance yes terday. The Bulletin will be weekly at first, but its editor, John O'Connor, sees a brilliant future, doubtless pie turing a city of skyscrapers and his paper tumbling by the thousands from high-powered presses, as the avid newsboys wait about the Bulletin building for the latest edition of a great daily.
 Close on the heels of the prospector and the pioneer follows the newspa per, spokesman of the community, voice of progress and herald of achievement. Cordova has not come thus far without having had it's news paper experiences, but at the time oil was struck there was no local publi- cation.
 The editor of the Bulletin states that it was not established to fill long-felt want, "but to meet the de- mands of a suddenly-created emer- gency." If the dreams of Cordova bear fruit this enterprising publisher will deservedly share in the general prosperity.
 Unfortunately, the pioneer in field sometimes wearies and his successor reaps the reward of his hard work, but the stars presage a happier fate for Editor O'Connor, founder of Alabama's first oil paper. Wants GerEr2aE2 Music
 SheIved for a Time
 JOSEPH HALBROOKE, the dis 0 tinguished English composer, in an interview in Musical America, complains of the scant recognition of native talent in his country. German compositions predominate on London symphony programmes, which he thinks ought not to be. He does not allude to the war but in the nature of things hatred of the Teuton in- forms his mind and heart.
 Halbrooke goes back to the time of Queen Victoria, who habitually showed preference to Teutonic art in every way. "One remembers" he says, 'the famous instance of Wagner and the Queen. The Philharmonic orches- tra of those days was even more inn possible than it is at present, and al- though they would have given a great deal to get rid of Wagner and his conducting actually tried to do so-the favor of her majesty saved the great German celebrity. Such an incident could be multiplied much, for we have not yet, as native musicians, received any particular attention from our rulers, and, although this may sound ridiculous, the mob or the aris- tocracy Whichever you care to call it) always follows where royalty be- comes patron"
 Halbrooke says that London could well do without Bach, Mozart, Bee thoven, Haydn, Brahms, Strauss and the rest for the next ten years. But could it?
 England has produced very few composers who are classed as masters. Church of England music of some merit has been written during the last 100 years, but none of it can be compared to that written by conti- mental composers. "The wretched po- sition of our art has been consolidated by our own musicians, especially by our conductors" declares MT. Hal brooke. "They even assert that the inclusion of our native work in a pro- gramme will keep away many people, an assertion I, with many others, do not in the least credit" MT. Halbrooke being on friendly terms with Sir Thomas Beecham, London's foremost conductor, induced him to produce one of his symphonies. The new work was we'll received, but ,+ x,oxyor bod orofhar baa,i,r