Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-14
OUR SOCIAL WORLD.

(Ali items of social interest will he gladly noted in these columns if sent to Mrs. George c. Ball, Nineteenth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South H1sh- lands. Telephone 9ss9
 After a vacation delightfully."- spent with relatives in Atlanta and in seeing the great exposition. l am once more at home, and enter with renewed energy upon my duties, feeling that each glimpse of the outside world but impresses upon every thoughtful person the power of the present day journalism and the inn mense responsibility that rests upon each man and woman connected with the pro- fession. And a view of the exposition gives a fresh impetus to southern hope, for it demonstrates the force of southern energy and southern genius, and what can be accomplished by our section by properly directed zeal. The fragmentary notes given this morning were written early during my visit to Atlanta, but be- cause of some irregularity of the mail service they were belated, and in conse- quence the second letter, which. arrived first was published on Thursday, mak- ing matters appear little awkward.
 When the Southern railway train of the Georgia division pulled out of Bir- V
 cember 1, for Atlanta, it was filled with valuable human freight-with goodly company of Birmingham folk, all bent on seeing the Cotton States and lnterna- tional exposition. and seeing 1t under pleasant and congenial circumstances On the train were Col. and Mrs. l.. w. Clarke, Capt. and Mrs. Joseph F. John ston, Mrs. J. Nj. Davidson, Miss Irene Dozier, MT. and Mrs. James Bailey, be- sides Misses Elise and Sue A.en Ball, myself and others, bent upon the same agreeable mission. Through the falling shades of night we sped towards the southern metropolis, Atlanta, to which all eyes and feet have been turned since the middle of last September, and at near ly midnight we found ourselves amid the great throng which lines the car shed at all hours of the day and night. Some of us were greeted by waiting loved ones and borne to hospitable homes. while others found comfortable quarters in the great hotels of this bustling> city.
 I have mentioned that among the Bir- mingham contingent were MT and Mrs. Bailey, but a mere mention will not do for bride and groom who took their friends so completely by surprise by their marriage that it was necessary to have explana tions made, even to news paper people. MT. and Mrs. Bailey were quietly married Wednesday afternoon. It was a pretty home wedding. and the happy young couple drove immediately to the railway station and took the train for Atlanta. But some of MT. Bailey's time was pleasantly occupied while we waited for a belated train connection in explaining, in the most unruffied man. ner possible under the circumstances why he was making the trip, and why he was not alone. He quite rejoiced in hav- ing successfully escaped newspaper men tion, but I think he found that there is as much tender interest attached to bride and groom after the marriage cere- mony as before it.
 Well, the splendid Atlanta exposition has been seen and studied by hundreds of Birmingham people, and doubtless the verdict is almost unanimous that it is magnificent, an absolute success. From the moment that you catch a glimpse of the picturesque gateway, with its Tu- dor-lixe towers and turrets, you are i'm pressed with the magnitude of the under taking and the enormous realiZations brought about by these indomitable At lanta people, who have yet to acknowl- edge their first failure In any direction. It is useless to describe the beautiful grounds of the exposition with its stately buildings. its expanse of lakes and all the minutiae which pertain to such an en- closure. The handsome roadwayS are filled with teeming humanity, going from building to building in quest of knowl- edge Huge herdics, gay in red or yell W horses, carry weary pedestrians around the grounds for cents. and few rolling chairs are seen, holding men and women whose physical strength has waned in the effort to take in'' the great show.
 The buildings are always filled with visitors, some from the tropical regions, whose climate has left its dusky impress upon their brown faces; some from cold CT climes, who bear upon their cheeks the blush that came with the kiss of the north wind. All nations have sent rep resentatives. all countries have contrib uted of their population but no matter what tongue is spoken, no matter wheth- CT the skin be fair or dark the verdict Is one and the same and that is that the Atlanta exposition is a tremendous suc- cess If you speak the soft. musical vernacular of the dear south you will pause as you enter the gateway, hold your breath as the grand realization of southern enterprise bursts upon your astonished gaze. and as the bells chime in the great towers above the din and hustle, Nearer My God to Thee. Nearer to Thee" you will raise your heart in profound gratitude to that God who has been so near to our southern land. and who has brought out of the confusion of war. pestilence and poverty a time when the south exhibits to the world the tri- umphs of her genius and her courage.
 All womens feet naturally tend to- wards the woman's building which is always crowded with men and women alike. Throughout it's corridors, halls and rooms are beautiful works of art which sprung from women's brains and women's fingers. and rare old reminders of another age and time. which are sur rounded by the opalesccnt mists of tra- dition. Many states have rooms in this building. which are ornately odorned with treasures loaned by distinguished citizens. Then there is the assembly hall, with its wealth of priceless por- traits, sent by the women of South Car olna. and its rich oriental draperies from the same source.
 There seems to be ridiculous side to almost every phase of life. and there cer- tainly Is to the womens congress, of which you and read so much in the flu- ent pages of the 'Woman's Department" of the Constitution and Journal Before coming over I confess to having been affected by an envy of the large body of humanity who daily listened to the elo- uuent addresses of notable women from all parts of the country But no longer