Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-27
Social and Otherwise.
lAll items of social interest will be gladly noted in this column if sent to Mrs. George .. Ball, 21S1 Highland avenue.

The many editorials which have ema- rated from the best newspapers south and north regarding the action of the Georgia legislature in defeating Miss Dortch for the position of assistant state librarian give evidence of strong, healthy condition of the public mind upon a most important subject. Some of the speeches made by members of the Georgia house of represent atives, notably the one of Hon. MT. Hsr- rison of Quitman, have met with the de. rision and sarcasm of the best part of the country, and deservedly so. Of a surety, we sontherners have many grievous things to contend against at home and abroad, but largely at home, sad to relate. When will the time come that we can fully realize the terrible limitations we are putting upon ourselves and our future by tue ad- vocacy of certain theories that are at least a generation behind the thought aud creeds of the outside world? And, more than this, by the quiet acquiescence in many prae- tices that bring upon us the cond emnat ion of the people whose assistance we need, yet who cannot be induced to come among us with their helpful millions as long as the electric wires of the country are weighted with accounts of lynchiugs, bal- lot box stuffing and the massing of troops at state capital in times of peace and quiet. Who will bring to us money to ln- vest, to help us develop our wonderful natural resources, when such telegrams are filling the columns of the press of this country and of Europe? We southerners- with all due respect to outsiders-are the greatest people on the earth, and our sec- tion of country the most favored under Gods blue skies, but we are bound hand and foot unless we arouse ourselves to the injury being done us and our section by comparatively few misguided politicians of small caliber. Fortunately public opinion is becoming outspoken, and the thinking men and women of the south are resent ing the moral and material injury being done us as people by methods and practic s unworthy our race and suggestive of aperiod which now no longer exists. It is also fortunate that many northerners and foreigners come among us and see for themselves what noble, law abiding race the majority of us are and, with our impulses, how conservative we are in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. These people do testify good of us, and through their reports, the other parts of the nation can learn that ballot Dox stuffing will no longer be tolerated by us; that the law will be invoked by our people, and that, notwithstanding our state capitals are sometimes placed in a state of siege, our people are peacefully following their avocations and struggling against all these odds, and hope some time to reach a brighter day, when there will be more business and prosperity and less politics and small politicians.
 In refutation of such speeches as those made by the Hon. Mr. Harrison of Quit man regarding the election of women to suitable positions, quote here from the Times Democrat timely paragraph which precedes an article in that paper giving a list of the many cultivated women of New Orleans who have charge of libraries in that city: "Librarianism is a newly in- vented word, coined to stand as the name for the profession of librarian, calling for which women are particularly adapted. A recent paragraph in an exchange ob- serves that noticeable thiog about most of the women who have entered 1t is the fact of their gentle birth. Education is re- uuired, of course, but it is also evident that the majority of our women librarians are of irreproachable blue blood. As else where, so is this the rule in New Orleans, where the profession is graced by cul- tured, helpful, sympathetic coterie of women.'
 After printing this article in it's entirety Crimson White, the interesting paper published and edited by the students at the University of Alabama, pays high tribute to Mrs. Amelia Gorgas, who is li- brarian of the university at ruskaloosa. It says: "The University of Alabama is very fortunate in having for It's librarian lady of much distinction and rare culture, Mrs. Amelia Gorgas. Mrs. Gorgas is a daughter of Hon. John Gayle, one of the earliest and most honored governors of Alabama. The writer, very young man, about the time of Governor Gayle's death, in 1859, was a citizen of Mobile, and re- members well the governor's commanding appearance and his winning and dignified bearing and his look of broad benevolence. His graces of manner and his warm symDa- thy for young men are displayed in an eminent degree by bis accomplished daugh
 ter. The late General Gorgas, to whom Miss Amelia Gayle was married in early life, was gentleman of the most capti- vating address, one who could well appre- ciate the virtues of the lady of his choice. No one ever enters the university library without feeling the charming influence of this librarian, who is ever ready to aid and encourage in the search of knowledge"
 Christmas passed off with great satisfac- ton to our citizens. 1t was more gener- ally observed and iu q more appropriate manner than any previous Christmas in Birmingham's $ history. The Catholic and Episcopal churches were suitably deco rated, and the music especially fine in these churches. The singing of Millard's mass at the Catholic church was thor ougbly we'll done, and received from the most cultivated critics the highest praise. Mrs. H. H. Sinnige, soprano; Miss Hous- ton, contralto; Messrs. Sterling Lanier aud Arrico, tenors, and Messrs. Rosser and Smith, bassos, sustained the solo parts splendidly, and were ably assisted by a large choir, all under the direction of MT. William Rosenstihl. This choir achieved a triumph on Christmas Day and received heartiest congratulations. The music at the Adventand St. Mary's was very supe- rior, and the vested choirs at both churches gave evidence of careful training and in- struction. The soloists of both choirs were in fine voice and rendered the glori- ous Christmas music in the most effective manner. r~
 There have been number of pleasant so- cial functions, none of great size, but all bright and happy and full of Christmas joy. The cotillion of the Pbilhedonian club Christmas morning at their pretty club rooms was a pronounced success. The following young ladies and gentlemen were presents: Misses Florrie Roden, Bos- sic O'Brien, Katie Bell, Sara Martin, Mol lie Jordan. Mary Virginia Graves, Lucy Turner, Natalie Phelan, Mittie Sherrod, Fannie Arnold, Lila Smith,, Katherine Hooper and Margie Turner and Messrs