Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-24
CURBST0NE AND LOBBY.

than twenty -four hours of happiness in his long life. Then he has never known much grief. It seems inevitable that happiness cannot last long. When we are particu- iarly happy we are sure to experience re- vnlsion of feeling. Some sorrow is sure to come. The champagne of exhilaraiion is followed by a headache, so they who have tried it say. It may be that when we are very happy we throw off our armor and are defenseles to the shafts of III fortune. Not thinking of an enemy we are mbushed. Hence we are hurt more by the indifference of love, the coldness of friendship, or the loss of money. When not completely happy we are on the lookout for troubles and trials, our armor is buckled close about us, and the shafts of bad luck fall hurtless at our feet. A snarling, ill-natured dog rarely gets bit-he is on the watch for an attack in the rear and is suspicious of every dog he meets He treats every other. dog as an enemy until he proves friend. The gentle, good natured dog jogs along enjoying bis bone to his hearts content-he is not suspicious and thinks every other dog as happy as him. self. He treats every other dog as friend until he proves an enemy. The first thing he knows he is snapped in the rear by mongrel cur, who rms off with bis bone. II he had not been so completely happy he had not become so completely miserable. v
 
 Little Johnnie is asked by his playmates to go fishing with them. They tell him if he does not go 1t will break up the party. He Is good, kind hearted boy, and he hates to break up their sport. He runs away from home and joins them, although his mother has positively forbidden his going near the creek. Little John nie is too good. He is led captive by his kindness. He can't say no. His virtues lean to vice's side. He grows up to be q man, and this falling grows with him. He can nots resist the temptation and the alluremeiits of gilded vice. His back bone is bulbous. He is first pitied by his fellowmen and then despised. The good qualities he possessed have proven his ruin by being allowed to develop abnormaliy. He fell victim to his love of the social cup, to his kindness of heart, to his inability to resist tempta- tion. beautiful young woman stands before us. She possesses those womanly qualities a man first admlres. then loves. A lover appears. He praises her gentleness, her sweetness, her amia- bility. He begs kiss. In the goodness of her heart she consents. Instantly she sinks in his estimation. He despises her for those very qualities he had praised. He invites her to go to ball. She con sents, although it is the season of peni- teDce, and all her careful training, all the precepts of her mother and of her church and her own conscience tell us it is wrong. The young man at first feels flushed with the victory he has gained, but sober, second thought convinces him that whilehe may continue to love her he can never more admire her.
 He was awaiting the arrival of an East Lake dummy, and had time to think about folks and to express his opinion about peo- pie and things. So he gave vent to his feelings in this wise: ''Some people are so smart that they weary you. They are ever on the alert mentally, and put you to the top of your bent to keep up with them. They embellish common places with pro- found wisdom, and degrade the most deli. cate sentimept with pun. Their mental fleet of warships protecting the coast. Asi you hove in sight they fro an epigram across your bow, and you must lay to and unlimber your intellectual guus. No mat ter if you have just dined heavily and claim that you are within the three- mile limit of Iaziness, it is no defense against their un- ceasing aggressiveness. Then with light- ming like rapidity they explode pun over your prov or run sentence of hidden meaning into your hull under the water < They pay no attention to the white flag of truce, and when you capitulate they take you on board as prize crew and tell their friends how they have taken him in.'
 "These lightning change prestidigata- teurs weary and confuse you with the very
 
 like bird, they fit with such rapidity from bough to bough that it is impossible ~ to keep up with their flight. While you are trying to catch them by putting salt ou their tale in the shape of a sensible answer, their thoughts are flying down the wind. They leave you sweating at every pore with the exertion put forth in trying to keep up with them, and as exhausted as Sullivan after meeting Corbett. If there is any excuse for these perennially smart Id d. s, tt,4hf fl. l tt- tai pond. There was no virtue h the pool of Siloam until the waters were stirred. '
 ''The dry goods merchants of Birmiug- ham are working harmoniousiy, one to- ward the other, ' said one of the number, ''and often fill orders from stocks of others. Yesterday a clerk from another house rushed into another store and asked for "a round child's comb with teeth in the side.'" The neighboring merchant didu't deal in them.
 "I see the silverites are organizing a local silver league" said one gentleman to another yesterday; "why not some of us organize sound money leagne?'1 "Why," said the friend, tive democrats who favor sound and honest money have party already-the democratic party. We play in no side show to draw the crowd from the big tent."
 Birmingham is the healthiest city in the south, - said well-known physician yesterday. srhere is DO sickness of @ SC. rious nature in the city and but few cases of any kind outside of colds. We have but few cases of grip, which is now 50 prevalent all over the country. Recently a few cases of pneumonia were reported. but the patients have about recovered and no new cases are reported" City Health Officer Parke was asked for an expression on the subject, and corroborated ali that the other doctor had stated.
 Yesterday afternoon four railroad passen- ger agents were seated in @ room waiting to interview some gentlemen on the sub- feet of tranaportaflon and the auhiact of