The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

to curtail unduly ordinary mercantile pursuits.
 Adverting to the auditorium, if any citizen of Birmingham should take the view that such a building does not come under the head of necessity; that we can afford to wait until after the war before starting on project of this kind, he will see it differently if he thinks twice. In the community singing as an in- stitution is bound up patriotism, re- ligion and a wholesome morale. These great community gatherings have brought the people together in closer bonds than ever before.
 But as successful as the sings" have been in a theatre, the commun- ity spirit would be immeasurably quickened if ten thousand people could assemble Sunday after Sunday under the same roof. An auditorium would help to accomplish what all pa- triotic men and women are striving for. The city commission can be trusted to take the broad view and so can business men in general be counted upon to see the question in it's true perspective after they have thought it over. A private at Camp Meade, Md, was sentenced to three years Imprisonment. and dishonorable discharge for refusing to do kitchen police duty. Washing dishes and peeling potatoes is slow work for a fighting man. but it has to be done. # ~ # There are probably a. few chairmen of congressional committees who don't act as if they had the world on their shoul- ders, but they fail to catch the eye of the casual visitor in Washington 4. # # Medical authorities say Londoners are beginning to recover rapidly from the l excitement of an air raid. In the course of time, people can get used to almost anything.
 The British occasionally have to make a strategic retirement However. 1t is comforting to know that most of that sort of retiring is done by the Teutons.
 Representative Randall of California wants to make Washington 'bone-dry." With apologies to Briggs, somebody is always taking the joy out of life.
 < # E
 Speaking of hard-worked diplomats, Ambassador Francis probably has his hands full all the time at Petrograd-lf he's still at Petrograd
 T #
 The Christmas drive is in full swing, with fine prospects of getting all the old scrooges out of their trenches by De- cember 25.
 A woman was convicted of murder the ether day. Probably not the sort of fair defendant who appeals to a susceptible jury.
 That man is poor indeed who isn't scuttling about town with 8 Christmas shopping list in his hand or his pocket.
 # # *
 If those Russians don't behave, the allies may be compelled to turn them over to the Japs for another trouncing.
 * * *
 Shivering Alabamians should take heart of grace The mercury in Yukon terri tory is 50 degrees below zero.
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 Former Ambassador Won Bernstorff probably has no regrets for what hap pened to Halifax He was forced to swal- low bitter pill there. T E *
 Now that Kerensky is down and out, correspondents don't mind saying how weak and vain he was. * * # When Teuton air raider arrives over London town it doesn't take him long to get homesick.
 l. * * Will those injunctive state officials per- init pert paragraph extollins cold bot tie?
 LUKE M'LUIxE SAYS We see by the fashion news that the new hustle may be worn either in the rear or in the front. But you will have hot time explaining to corn fed girl why she should wear one in either place l A whole lot of men can't stand pros pcrity. And whole lot more never l get a chance to find out whether they | can or not.
 small boys idea of terrible exam pie is any example in the rear of the arithmetic.
 1 You can always convince man that he is getting the worst of it. But it is | r, rd fa hin, hal 10 uets