Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-28

b
 c. Ball, 2Is1 Highland avenue. =-ss------
 Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and the hush of the penitential season is upon the Christian worldl Over all Cbristendom the shadow of the cross is beginning to creepi In it's revolving the earth has seen the star of Bethlehem, with it's radiant beauty, sink into the west, while coming over the eastern hills are the sombre clouds of this Lenten time. Upon the summit of Calvary stands the cross, and its vivid out lines meet the gaze of the wondering world. Day by day it's shadows will lengthen, day by day it will come closer to us, until amid the awful gloom of Good Fridss we shall stand around it's base and with the saints of all ages watch and weep. The hush and the shadows are now ours, but through the prophetic silence comes the still, small voice which tells of love, hope and eternal salvation; and amid the darkness shines the light of Gods approv- ing smile. For six weeks earthly peas- ures and earthly qualifications must be put behind us as we go into the wilderness with our Lord. For forty days we must conteD,- plate His great sacrifice, and for that time there is no room in the human soul for the small distractions of life. Not that these distractions are wicked in themselves, far from it, but because the time has come when we must lay them aside in order to come nearer to our Saviour, and to be with Him in the time of His suffering and His, humiliation. There should be no place in the human heart for levity while our Lord lasts anu prays. There can bs no excuse for revelry while We consider the divine pathos of it all. Two branches of the Christian church lays the hand of authority upon it's members and bids them retire from the diversions of everyday life and reverently to follow the Saviour into the darkness of the shadow of the cross. And willingly we go, knowing that at the end Of the journey there awaits us the glorious beauty of the Eastertide, when men and angels shall sing of that final resurrection when crowns shall be given to all of those who patiently bore the weight and burden of the cT0ssi
 Dr. and Mrs. Charles Whelan entertained a number of friends Monday evening at a dining given in honor of Dr. Jerome Coch- ran. The menu of ten courses, with suit able wines, was served with the accom- paniments of exquisite white embroideries and royal pink roses. Dr. and Mrs. Whelan invited the following friends to meet Dr. Cochran: MT. and Mrs. R. H. Pearson, MT. and Mrs. Robert Jemison, Mir. and Mrs. K. N. Rhodes, MT. and Mrs. J. M. Martin, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Parke, Mir. and Mrs. A. o. Lane, MT. and Mrs. Syd Moore and Mrs. Wadsworth.
 Miss Ellen Smith of Mobile is visiting her friends Dr. and Mrs. L. c. Woodson, on the South Highlands.
 MT. John Howze left yesterday for Athens, Ga., where he will enter the Georgia State university.
 Mrs. Jack w. Johnston returned Wednesday morning from Louisville, Ky., whither she was called by the sudden death of her half- brother, Mir. Paul Jones.
 The Book club was entertained by Miss Louise Rucker on Tuesday afternoon at the residence of her parents, Gen. and Mrs. D. w. Rucker, South Highlands. It was an Emerson afternoon, and selections from the writings of Emerson were read by Mrs. H. L. Badham and Miss Gage. During the afternoon delightful refreshments were served.
 The Duplicate Whist club, which meets usually Thursday aftern oons at the va rious homes of the members, held its final meeting, until after Lent, at the home of MT. and Mrs. John London Tuesday evsn- ing at 8 o'clock. Progressive whist was played with great interest, and the lady,s prize was won by Mrs. Thomas D. Parke, while MT. w. s. Lowell won the gentle. man prize.
 Mrs. James Mclean Jones of Greens boro, Ala, is visiting her mother, Mrs. Kate Lewis, Underwood Hill, South High. lands.
 Mrs. Thad Weatherly gave a matinee card party on Tuesday morning, which was greatly enjoyed by her guests. There were four tables of players, and the prize, a handsome Wedgwood vase, was won by Mrs. Thomas Warrington. Dainty re- treatments were served between the games.
 Mrs. Rush Simpson entertained on Tues- Afternoon Whist club, and Miss Jane Warrington was the prize winner. The prize was a pretty cut glass dish.
 On last Monday evening, at the home of