Birmingham state herald., 1896-04-26

beat close to mine, until. the waters which separate the shores of life from the shores of the eternal land swept in between us and bore them out beyond my reach. There comes at nightfall the chiming of bells that have rung with the same sweetness through the years that have gone. The angelus still calls the faithful to their devotions above the din and hustle of the city, and the old capitol clock still tells the flight of time upon its dial as it did long, long ago, But there is one sound that is missing,
 one that seemed so essential part or
 Montgomery, that even the excitement and turmoil of the past week could not make me forget 1t. It was the rapid ringing Methodist church bell that call ed a devoted congregation together since the church was first built until now, when it can no longer sound a note, and Is only a. silent reminder of the energy on faithful sexton. In 1890 last heard the sharp, vibrant changing of this old bell and as it came to me in the soft spring gloaming my eyes were wet withs tears as the sweetest, tenderest memories of 8
 lifetime crowded into my heart while the old bell rang out and the evening air vibrated with the dreams and hopes of childhood, which came and went with the
 changing of the old broken bell. Montgomery is rich in its traditions. It is also rich in every evidence of thrift | and progress, and no one can appreciate 1 in the faintest way the strides made by l her people unless he visits the city and i sees for himself what has been accom- | plished quietly by it's citizens. It is no l longer ragged looking town, but com- l pact, handsome city, a typical southern | city. yet one that possesses most of the | elements of present day progress. There are only two things lacking that strike | every visitor to Montgomery. One is the | absence of a much-needed car shed and | the other is the fact that Montgomery l has not a single good hotel It is an enig-
 ma why so enterprising city, one in
 which assemble the state legislature. state conventions and many other im- portant conversations, should be entirely without even the average hotels. The
 fact that visitors are forced to patronize
 the present hotels, as there is no redress,
 should not make the people indifferent
 to a matter that generally Is a fair indi-
 cation of the prosperity of town. Mont
 gomery needs several new hotels. and she
 needs them badly
 At the state convention there were
 goodly number of fair Montgomery wo-
 men in the galleries enjoying the excit-
 ing proceedings of this important polit-
 ical body. They seemed to be as fully
 alive to the burning questions of the hour
 as the earnest men, who, on the floor be- low were deciding Alabama's position on
 the tremendous issue of the day. Among
 the ladies of Montgomery who were pres
 ent at the capitol were Mrs w. w.
 Screws, Mrs. Fred H. Warren, Mrs. Min-
 nie Reese Richardson, Mrs. Evvie Shep-
 herd Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Ava Fitzpatrick,
 Mrs. J. M. Wyly, Mrs. M. N. Faunce. Mrs.
 Ella Ponder Irvine, Mrs. Robert Ligon,
 Mrs. F. NJ. Billing, Mrs Dr. Pitts. Miss
 Lucy Gayle, Mrs. Harvey Jones and
 many others. From other parts of the
 state there were representative women,
 Mrs. Joseph F. Johnston, Mrs. w. H.
 Johnston, Mrs. John w Tomlinson of
 Birp1fngham and Mrs. Will Bray of Eu-
 faula being among the number. In the
 galleries and corridors were embryonic
 young statesmen, who will, some day,
 influence future state conventions with
 their political power. Two of these were
 Messrs. Jeff Davis Clayton and Lee J.
 Clayton of Eufaula, who rendered such
 invaluable service in the just ended
 campaign for the gubernatorial nomina-
 tions. They are sons of the late MaJ.-
 Gen. H. D. Clayton and brothers of Hon.
 Henry D. Clayton. They are but begin political career.
 Of course. Montgomery has the bicycle craze. Men, women and children wheel through the wide streets in singles, | doubles battalions and regiments. and with the same enthusiasm and delight that mark the bloyclers of less conserva- tive cities.
 Mrs. William Brophy of our city is vis- fling her son in Nashville.
 The ladies of the First Presby yterian church will give a baby show two weeks from next Wednesday at the home of MT.
 and Mrs. Thomas M. Bradley, on the | South Highlands.
 
 | The Sunday school of St. Mary y'son- | the-Highlands will give their picnic next | Saturday at North Birmingham park The Little Jokers were the guests on Thursday afternoon of Mrs. Paul Free | South Highlands. There were several guests present, Mrs. John w. Tomlinson, | Mrs. N. c. Royster Mrs N w. Trimble, | Mrs. Robert Stone, Mrs. H. H. Sinnige, | Mrs. Garrett. Mr. Freeman's sister, and | Miss Hannah Elliott. The prize, a lovely
 cut-glass bon-bon dish, was won by Mrs. | Garrett After the serving of the dainty | refreshments the Little Jokers adjourned, to meet next with Miss Jennie Porter at
 3;S0 o'clock.
 | The Houston (Tex.) Daily Post of last | Sunday makes this mention of an enjoy able Birmingham social event:
 MT and Mrs. Walter Erskine Cross | celebrated the 9th anniversary of their | marriage last Tuesday In Birmingham. Ala Mrs Cross was Miss Cora Howard, daughter of General Howard of this city, | and is a native Houstonian She is sis- | ter of Miss Notie and MT. LeGuyn How ard"
 | After the marriage of Miss Chisolm and MT. Guest next Wednesday morning at St. Mary 's-on-the-Highlands Col. and 1 Mrs. Robert Chisolm will entertain the bridal party and few friends at lunch con. r. Prof A. c. Moore of the Birmingham | High school will lecture at Powell school | next Friday afternoon at o'clock upon | ''The Influence of Morse Mythology Upon English Literature" Everyone who feels an interest in this subject Is cordially in vited to be present.
 | The following handsome cards have l been received, and sincere congratula- 1 tons are extended MT. and Mrs. Alexan- | der Porges: MT Alexander Porges of New York | and Miss Veni Mcdonald of Montgomery, Ala announce their marriage on