Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-27
OUR SOCIAL WORLD

(All items of social interest will be gladly noted in these columns if sent to Mrs George C.. Ball, Nineteenth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High lands. Telephone 9SS.)
 Birmingham has had within her bor- ders during the past week three men with far more than a sectional reputa- ton. The entire country is familiar with their fame as men of mental power and genius. And yet, while their reputation is national, not sectional, they stand as opponents of those traits which distinctly pertain to the parts of the union from which they sprung. These three men, Dr.. Lyman Abbott, Hon. Alfred Taylor and Ex-Gov. Bob Taylor, represent in an em- inent degree the difference of speech and manner which largely characterizes the people of the north and the south.
 pr. Abbott with clean cdt and epigra- matic sentences, bristling with the high est and best ideas of this nineteenth cen tury, won his way on Wednesday even ing to the intellect and appreciation of his audience. This he did notwithstand- ing his almost entire lack of personal magnetism and an absence of all orator. ical display. He spoke for America and American homes. He stood with the earnestness of Christian and patriot for marriages as a sacrament and not merely a civil contract; for the ad- vancement of both men and women along the highest lines of human development. He advocated the position now held by all men of judgment and intelligence, that whatever human beings have the genius to accomplish they have the right to do, whether they be men or women. At the same time he scathingly rebuked all unwomanly tendencies and whatever lessened the influence of women for the good of the race. He took the ground, and rightly, too, that we need not dis turb ourselves about preparing our daughters for good wives and mothers, or our sons for noble husbands and fa- thers; that 1t Is only necessary to make them complete men and women, broadly educated, and with their best instincts properly cultivated and they will natur- ally fill the responsible positions of wives and mothers, husbands and fathers. pr. Abbott eloquently plead for the home life, with all its sacred beauty and sweet ness. and at every point he made an in dellible impression upon his cultivated audience.
 On Friday evening" upon the same stage, appeared two southerners who can be reckoned as thoroughly typical. With a warmth and glow of words they pictured this great land of ours, this mar velous Dixie and Yankee Doodle. Each  vor of a genuine orator and with the pow CT of natural stump speaker and the telling brought forth rapturous applause from an immense audience. With the gift of that oratory which appeals alike to heart and brain the great mass of hu- manity, which, with eager eyes, looked into the faces of the two wonderful broth CTS, was moved and swayed according to the whim of the speakers. Tears followed laughter, and wit and pathos were min gled with a fascination irresistible. The well-rounded phrases, the beautiful word pictures and the inimita ble humor of the southern orator received the most en- thusiaStic appreciation of delighted peo- pie. And when the words died away and the notes of the plantation melodies be- came only tender echoes in the hearts of the vast audience. the fortunate men and women who heard the lecture of Dr. Abbott and the orations of the Taylor brothers had opportunity to remember that though they differed in presenta- ton and expression, the same spirit and influence ran through the work of all three men. This impulse and spirit is nothing less than that great and grow ing sentiment of Americanism which is becoming one of the dominant ideas of this present time and Is beginning to make itself felt in all our institutions, whether social, religious or political It matters not whether the words were spoken by man who in his speech and personality represented the north or by those two brothers who stand as typical southerners, the moving impulse of each one was love of our magnificent country and desire to perpetuate all that is nobest and best of It's institutions, no matter to what section they belong. They spoke for America and Americans and in so doing they are only advocating a principle that is making itself felt in the length and breadth of the land. This spirit of Amercanism is abroad in our country; it is beginning to possess our nation; each year sees it grow stronger and more powerful, and 1t will finally dominate all lesser principles.
 America and Americans will only reach the high destiny to which they are en- titled when the sons of the nation are permeated yea, saturated with the grand doctrine of Americanism. There will be no cessasion of this sentiment in the minds of the people until the greatest results are accomplished for Americans. Such lectures as have been delivered dur ing the past week in Birmingham have their influence in bringing about these results, in that they awake in the hearts of men and women a fresh love for our country, and a renewed ardor for the best possible future for our great nation.
 The members of the Cadmean Literary circle were entertained on Friday af- ternoon by Mrs. J. Morgan Smith Sev- eral important matters of business were transacted by the circle, and paper upon "Pre-Historic America was read by Mrs F. Y. Anderson, and one of Harry S. Edwards dialect stories was read by Mrs. Robert D. Johnston. After the completion of the literary programme Mrs. Smith served dainty refreshments,