Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-10
Social and Otherwise.
IAI items of social interest will be gladly noted in this column fl sent to Mrs. George c. Ball, 21s1 Highland avenue.

floated down the beautiful stream. On either side stately magnolias lifted their pure white cups, filled with bumpers of golden sunshine, up to the soft blue skies; graceful, swaying willows moved languor- ously in the summer wind, and the air was heavy with perfume and pulsated with the melodious warble of mocking bird and lin- net. 1 dropped the oar in the bottom of the boat content to drift with the flowing stream and to dream, even if forever, amid this beauty and this fragrance. The white misty clouds, "like sheep in the meadows of the skies," were very restful to my weary eyes. The past, with it's tears and it's smiles, was behind me. I rocked not then that there were graves full of buried dreams and hopes in that great realm of things that were. These graves were as altars raised to mark the conflicts won, the victories gained. was now ready for new life, in a new land and under new skies. But the future mattered little so loug as drifted on the beautiful stream, with the green banks, the periumed ar and the glorious sunshine about me. But the sun began to sink in the radiant west; the air lost it's sweetness and warmth and became heavy with the mists and dews of twilight, aud the birds chirped soft good night. 1 finally aroused myself to the need of shelter for the coming night, and turned my boat towards the shore. Away down amid the tropical growth there glowed light brighter than the tirehy's lamp and warmer than that of southern stars. reached the shore, penetrated the thick ness and soon found myself before an open door, Inside the fire gleamed and cracked, and sent it's sparks into the dark night. On either side of the broad hearth sat a man and woman, who, hearing my footsteps, were aroused and urgently bade me enter. Glad to be once more with my kind, for flowers, sunshine and birds count as naught compared with human hearts and human smiles. l gladly en- tered, and sat myself between them. They questioned me with great delicacy, and all their surroundings, though simple, de- noted refinement and culture. While l explained my sudden appearance the wife prepared supper for us, and as we ate told them of the great world outside, of it's wonderful happenings and the glorious outlook for the coming years. Their eyes became moist and tender as we talked. At last the husband softly said, "Sir, it must appear passing strange to you to find amid these wlds two persons who have had all the advantages of wealth and social posi- tion. But life as 1t was became unbeara- bIe to us. The years had brought grand triumphs to men. They made money, they wou renown in all the walks of life, and there remained nothing beyond their reach but the infinite. And the world was very happy and very prosperous for the sons of men. We ate, drank and made merry, while our loving wives sewed and swept and cooked! These good women tended their offspring and looked after their servants, content to enjoy the privi- lege of existing in the same atmosphere with their lordly husbands. When a man spoke his wife listened and opened not her mouth, and why should she? To man is given the brain, to woman the heart of humanity. Man alone occupied the great stations of earth and received the homage of his fellow men. And at such times of power he left his dear wife at home, while he basked in the glory and brightness of success. Sometimes he found In the outside world women who did not forever cook or sew, and who rendered his sojourn away from his family very entrancing, but that Is neither here nor there. Suffice he came home at last, willing to recount most of his triumphs and to grow enthusiastic over home dishes and home comforts. Now this IS all changed. Women have dared to think and to talk of recent years. And in my own town the women not only talked and thought, but built churches and managed the charities and carried on hospital. But these latter things were well enough for since the days of Eve no man objects to the burden being borne by loving women. But beyond all these things they read, discussed the questions of the day, met in literary circles and wrote essays
  they wrote as well as some men. And in consequence they ceased to regard men with the awe and veneration due from an inferior creature to superior one. All these innovations the public bore and still does bear. It seemed to be growing ac- customed to this order or disor- der of things. But l could bear no more. So with my sweet wife, who has not worried with books, but believes in m as the exponent of modern progress and civ ilizatinn h fbia Iou I flown from the haunts of men, believing it 10 be my duty to protect her from these follies and these fancies.' He ceased to speak. I turned to look at his gentle wife, and To! she slumbered. He smiled tranquily at her and said: .'Dear wife, how content you are. Your busy fingers keep time to the music of home all the day long, and when nights sable cloak covers the earth you sleep as do the birds and flowers. It shall be my pleasure to protect you from all this new orderof a new tme.' Then, as if in revery, he added, "But what would the world do if they all slumbered and slept?'
 The members of the Tuesday Afternoon Whist club were the guests of Mrs. Thomas Ashford, and the prize, an exquisite rose bowl and embroidered center piece, was won by Mrs. George R. Ward.
 
 Mrs. John Wilkins of Selma is the guest of Mir. and Mrs. s. Perry Fowlkes, South Highlands.
 Mrs. Robert l.. Houston will probably spend the remainder of the winter with her mother, Mrs. Toney, at her home near Eufaula.
 On the morning of January 8, at Fifth Avenue hotel, New York, Dr. Henry Goidthwai,e died of apopiexy. Dr. Gold thwaite was a native of Mobile, Ala, and came of a distinguished Alabama family. His father, Judge Henry Goldthwaite, was one of tue foremost lawyers and judges of the ante- belluIn period, and his uncle was the late Judge George Goldthwaite of Montgomery, United States senator from Alabama and at one time on the supreme bench of the state.
 Dr. Henry Goldthwaite graduated at Princeton in 1860, entered the Confederate army as private, but rose to the rank of major. After the war he had charge of the banking interests in the south of Brown Bros. He afterward graduated in meIii- cine at Bellevue Medical college, New York, and was for years an instructor in that college. He was reSdent phYsician