Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-13
CURBSTONE AND LOBBY.

There are ways of overhearing conversa- tions without cave sdropping, and ways of repeating them without violating any Of the laws of confidence. For instance, yes- terday afternoon was sitting in the lobby of one of our leading hotels, leisurely smoking & new briar-root and silently philosophizing over the seeming incon- sistencies of human nature, or something of the sort, when two prominent citizens came in and took seats just opposite. l soon discovered that they were on the backneyed theme of the metels, one sup porting, with his characteristic enthusi- asm, the free coinage of silver, and the other, with his quiet, dignified and assur- ing manner, was explaining his faith in the gold standard. The enthusiastic ad- vocale of silver soon bit upon the argument, time honored among the members or bls party, declaring that the appreciation of gold wonld be inevitable. The restless blue eye of the gold bug began to sparkle with a light of confidence, and when he had an opportunity to reply, In his bland manner he said:
 :Will you please explain 10 me how q standard can be at premium?'
 This was all he said, but 1t was enough to leave his opponent in the lurch. The lest saw of them they were steering h the
 
 the silver man.
 Mr. Bob Warnock is just back from his first visit 10 Shelf cid. at is one ot the most progressive cities in the south, said he yesterday. 'Why, SIT, do you know the people up there raised 2600 bushels of corn inside the corporate limits last year, and enough hogs to iced one-half the pop ulationl Sheffield is we'll located for cit and will be as great in commercial wealth one of these days as she IS now successful in agricultural enterprises.
 
 A gentleman who is large of heart and mind and who ever entertains ktnd and generous spirit for his fellow men and their shortcomings met me on Second avenue yesterday afternoon and we engaged 1n short onversation. He said:
 s'I have been thinking of the sad story of the death of prominent young gentleman of this city and l cannot banish the convlc- ton that it is indeed one of the sadeest stories that has ever come to my observa- tion. A friend told me today that ihe young man had an old and decrepIt aunt who was looked upon by many as burden, but that his devotion for her, as it was for every member of hisIamily, was beautiful. He would meet her h the evening when ne came from his days work and put his strong arms about her ana speak kind and encouraging words.' ssNow,' he said, sI have lived in this world nearly sixty years andI have known of but few cases of such untiring aHecilon ana manly attention from young man to the members of his family. This soft and tender devotion proves clearly to me that he was hero-one of nature's mo- blemen.''
 said to the gentleman: "How do you reconcile bis death with the reward of vir5 tue we are told 50 often and so much about?,' Here 1 saw something sparkle under his white eyebrows, and as he turned away he said: 'Ah, that is what makes the story so sad to me, but 1t will all come right, it will all come right.'
 As walked up the street felt that II All men could have his unswerving faith and at the same time the fullness of his sym pathy this old world of ours would move forward pace or two.
 Twas proppipg up telegraph pole at the corner of First avenue and Nineteenth street, when party of gentlemen passeds : coming from the morning session Of the United States district court now in session. Just before they reached my post one With silk hat and soft hands said to his com panions: "I am more iavorably impressed each oay with Judge Boarman's judicial capacity. He is one ofsthe most admira ble gentlemen that it has ever been my pleas- ure to meet upon the bench. His dignity, hign sense of justice and equity and his courtesy to all with whom he comes in con- tact commands the respect of any man who appreciates the best qualifications Of judi. cial cfficer.' These remarks were followed by general assent and were added to by other members of the party as they disap- peared around the corner.
 prominent hardware merchant said to the Stroller yesterday that 'plows are in better demand this season than they have been for a numb Der of years.' Of course the Stroller proceeded to make mental note of the fact that his fellow men were becoming more depraved every year, since they insist upon working, but as soon as the energetic merchant began to explain that this gives evidence of the production of more varied crop than heretofore, since | greater assortment of blows and farming | implements is being purchased, and that | this means undoubtedly more prosperity among the planters, his philosophy | changed to another channel. The mer- chant stated that in the vicinity of Bir- mingham he expected to see more attention than usual given to garden products, and therefore more economy in living through | the dull summer months. It is wonderful how practical some of our business men are in these days of financial diversity. The Stroller was enjoying his usual free | feast at the magazine counter of one of our | book stores day or two ago, when a lady and gentleman of the literary persuasion | entered and proceeded to examine the book shelves on the other side of the counter. | The lady finally suid: "I cannot under stand what there is to so ardently admire acters are admirable when their lives are taken altogether. Nothing more is claimed | for Trilby than her pretty feet and tender | heart, and these most of women possess especially the tender heart. ' The gentle | man tried to explain to her, in very tEnk tk k0n n1r rtk kfa