The age-herald., 1897-08-07
GOSSIP OF THE STREET
 AND HOTEL LOBBIES


 An old man lay in the police patHo1 wagon, tlja wagon stood in front of the city jail. His form was str. tened length Wixe of Ghe vehicle, the sun was pouring down at it's best rate. and great beads of precipitation stood out upon the aged mans forehead. He lay without am ele- vation for his head, and an unna tJIral covering of auburn hair came well down to a pain of bright blue eyes, unibedim- med by age. At intervals his head cov- erfng slipped from fs accuHtom= d place and the old man pulled it back each ;imc. betraying the least tinge of emibarrass- ment His form was long and lank, his features showed evidence of his having seen better days. His apparel was of the cheapest pair of blue checked pant aloons, a coarse cotton shint and rough blow sL1oss compile ed his out ward gar- ments. An Iffshman he must have been, for he had that complexion so character istic of the Emerald Isle.
 "Whal. is the trouble with the old fe1- low?"
 "Oh, he fell on ths streets and burrted himself up," answered someone cillously.
 Probably fifteen mfnu es elapsed. Still the old man lay in his uncomfortable po- sition. No one offered tim so much as a cool cup of wat:r. The thpong gazed, passed on to laugh and be gay. Still the old man, suffered, his plight being made more pitfaIble from .'he fact that he could not speak, paralysis having silenced h.5 tongue.
 The police officers wondered from wherce he came, but sympathy seemed to be a foreign element to the crowd of on lockers A stranger came up, suggested that a physician was needed and a mes senger was at once dispatched.
 The stranger asked if the sufferer could net be removed from his uncomfortable position, A negro assisted and the old man was carried to an upper story, plac d or a. hard bench and some cool water sert for. Still no one ventured rear, ex- osrt the stranger, who is not a citizen even of Alabama.
 After so Tor g atime the physician came. At the foot of the steps he inquired if the patient was alone. On being inform ed in the affirmative, he facetiously re- marked Don't let him go alone"
 He walked up the steps, surveyed the old man and without making an exami- nation, said Well, he is fit subject for the poor house," and departed after giving an order for him to be removed to the paupers home.
 It was several hours before tra n left in that direction. During the inter- val it was learned that the old man had escaped from the paupers' home the night previous, ard had made his way to Birmingham in search of work. Sympa- thy. was now at a lower ebb than ever. In a few hours the aged waif began his journey back to his home, lover the hills to the poor house."
 .'Is this the wtorgd?" Yes, stranger. the old man had no money, no friends. ITO influence.
 "So many Gods, so many creeds,
 So many paths that wind and wind,
 While just the art of being kind II Is all the sad world needs"
 Frank W. Moore was in the city yester- day. MT. Moore is just from Nicar- augua, and is returning to his home in San Francisco by way of New Orleans. He is a great gold enthusiast, having emigrated to California during the days when the gold fever was as high as 1t is at present in Alaska. "In Gen. tral America" said Mir. Moore, there are rich gold fields, rich enough to cause a regular Klondyke rage, if the fields were easy oe access. When system of roads is constructed through these fields there will be some startling develop ments" He visited Alaska some years ago and knows something of the climatic conditions. Said he: '.There will be alrge numbers who will be unable to live through the bitterly cold winter months"
 '"There's new mendicant on the street." remarked a gentleman who has an aversion to this class of population. "It is certainly a disgrace to see the streets of the city lined with these pests" Said another: "Lo you know 1t is pe- culiar characteristic of Americans to avoid unpleasant sights, I mean scenes that are calculated to inspire sympa- thy or pity? Is 1t caused from hard heart brought on by continued contact with such cases or is it the Americans characteristic to seek the cheerful side of Iife?'
 MT Walt:r Gulley, of Tuscaloosa, was at the Florence yesterday.
 w. c. Criat, of Atlanta, was in the city yesterday.
 IA. S. Candler, of Atlanta, the maker of Ghe glleat soda fountain beverage, oc- caeola,T-was at the Florsnce yesterday.
 Charles Tillyer, of Richmond, Va, was in Birmingham yesterday.
 B. aIcDade. of Mobile, was in the city yesterday.
 J. F. Bugtin, of San Angeley, Tex, was at the Morris yesterday.
 T. $. Lomax, of Baltimore, was at tlls Morris yesterday.
 Cowan Kirby of Nashville, was at the lMo;rhs yes. .erday. MT. Kirby is a former resident of Birmingham.
 Midwinter Heat Of Mexico
 Perhaps the most trying sun we have here on the tableland is the midNinter int la