The age-herald., 1897-08-01
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 Mrs. Paul Fitzsimmons, beautiful Georgia woman-who as Miss Russell, of Augusta, was one of the belless of that lovely old town-has spent six years in China and Japan, and has written charm ing let ers from that faraway land to her relatives in this country. Her husband. pr. Paul Fitzsimmons, is full surgeon. in the United States navy, and has had change of the marine hospitals in China and Japan, on two different cruises. He is a brother of Rev. Owen P. Fitzsim- mons, of our city and is now one of the r.ost prominent officers in the navy. Ex- tracts from some of Mrs. Fitzsimmons' letters, am sure, will be of interest. She writes of the celebration of the Fourth of July a'5 Yokohama: "We celebrated the Fourth here, on Monday the 5th. There were games on the cricket grounds in the morning; a reception on the Olympic in G.he afternoon, and night from the harbor the most beautiful fireworks that were ever dreamed of The heavens were aolaze with them; there were set pieces of the American eagle, the date of the declaration of independence. and Niagara Falls, while all tie men-of-War in the har- bor were outlined with coloIed cleo ric lights, and all the campauS natiVe boatG} wers' hung with brilliant lanterns The Grand ho'uel and all American homes on the Bund were beautifully illuminated, and the night was like one out of Fairy land A crowd of us went down and sat on flhe hotel verandah, the admiral join ing us. As there were two bands, ,one playing all the time, we had cha rming musical evening. Afterwards we wound up with little supper at Mrs. Strough- toms. Count Orfini was down from To- kio, and has invited us to spend day at the legation when W pO ff pa II n oil new minister, which will be very soon now. All the diplomats reside at Tokio We are receiving already many farewell invitations for dinner, tiffin and country trips.
 Well, we went up to Tokio yesterday early in the morning and returned home little after o'clock, just In time to rest and dress for dinner. Tokio is an immense place, with about one million things than I could tell you of in week. All the lovely lacquer ivory, bronze and embroidered things are kept in small stores. one can scarcely stand upright in, without striking ones head. The people all sit on the floors, which are covered with padded mating, and they eat in that position, and sleep on rug with small woo &~n seat for support for the head We consumed an hour getting there, the road lying through the IitSl DSdulllu1 COuHtTy. The d1Ic0eS CT tenches on the sides of the railway were full of lotus blossoms, pink and white, and as huge IS a soup plate, while the leaves are the size of a large parasol. We took jinrikeshas, upon arriving and kept them all day, first going to one Of the most beautiful parks. After visiting the museum, geological garden. end the Shogine's tomb, we took luncl at a res- taurant there, and good one 1t was too.
 We then did the town, and curio shops. The temple is gorgeous; all the wood anc metal work about 1t Is lacquered in gold, and brilliant colors, while leading up to 1t is long avenue of very ol trees, and inside the rows of trees, on either side of you, are lines of tall lanterns, in stone and bronze. These lanterns stand taller than man. To the right, and half way up the avenue, stands d tall, red pagola, one of the prettiest things I saw. Before entering the temple, had to remove my shoes, that one always has to do. I made several purchases while in Tokio. with all of which 1 am delighted"
 One of Birmingham's promising young gentlemen, Mr. Jackson iialsted. has written the following parody on Rud- yard Kpplng's famous poem. "The Vampire" It is the result of a disap- pointing rain storm. whirn irterfer-ed with long-anticipated bicycle ride with a fascinating girl:
 "A fool there was and his plans he made
 (Even as you and I.)
 To ride bike with lovely maid,
 (But that plan by the heels the weather
 laid)
 And you'd be shocked at the things he said,
 CEven as you and I)
 Oh the tears we waste. and the words we I
 waste,
 And the work of our head and hand Belong to the schemes that never did go (And now we know that they never did go) But we didn't understand. A fool there was and he made his bet
 (Even as you and D He chuckled in glee at the chips he would get, But his hand didn't "fll." and he lived to
 regreD For a food will expect the things he'can't
 Gwen as you and I) Oh, the chips we tossed and the chips we And the 'pot'' we wanted so. Belonged to the man with the hand that (And now we know that we couldn't have won) And never had show. f-I So the fool was bereft of his foolish toys, - Gwen as you and I .! An escape from such vanity might make
 him rejoice,
 voice) For a fool must follow his natural choice
 Gwen as you and I.)