The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-31
ETCHINGS FROM
CURRENT TOPICS


Rev. W. H. Milburn. known far and
wide to Americans as the blind chaplain
of the national congress-, is travelling
abroad this summer and incidentally de-
livering a few lectures. Recently he adj
dressed a large audience at Aberystwith,
Wales. and in the course of his effoTt, he
contrasted the 'a1fstocratic hssitancy" of
the English speaker with the Sssprsad-
eagle bunkum oratory" of the American
politician. If there ever was base IL
gratitude it was contained in this little
fling of Dr.. Milburn's at American STATS
men. The ovatiens that this \ ind chap
lain has addressed in the halls of con-
gress to the Creator (and had the au-
dacity to call these same discourses
"prayers'), should give him great for
bearance with all forms aad grades of
eloquence whether "aristocratically hest
tating'' on flamboyant and exciting. That
many a "spread-eagle" orator has SILENT
ly endured Dr. Milburn's bomba rdment Of
the throne of grace with all the political
questions of the day should have been
lesson in good manners to him As he
has. beicome as much impre ssed with
English methods and English superiority
as ex-Ambassador Bayar5, perhaps he
will remain across the pond long enough
for him to acquire the much-admired
"aristocratic hesitancy" The name OF
the oratorical acconlplishm lent counts for
very little; Americans only dssiu'e that
DR.. MiIburn shall acquire 1T while he is
abroad.
Tt is stated that Mrs. Jefferson Davis
and her daughter Miss Winnie Davis
(yflo viii be remembered as having been
known several years ago as the "Dauth-
tsr of the Confederaey," by loyal south
erners) have decided to visit the Nash
willie Centennial during October. The an
nounIcement is made that Mrs. and Miss
Davis will be the guests of Mrs. Van
Leer Kirkman. at helr handsome home
near Nashville. These ladies now reside
at New York City in the winter. and
Narragansett Pier, or some other north
ern resort, i'm the summer, and it may be
we'll to state THAT they Will be recalled
without much difficulty by people below
Mason ard Dixon's line as the wife and
daughter of the president of the Southern
Confederaoy. They SO rarely visit the
south, or evince any interest in this SEC
ton, which conferred upon their hus-
band and father the highest honeT with
in its gift, that Il is refreshing 10 learn
of their contemplated visit to Nashville.
1t is to be hoped that neither distinguish
ed woman will be striekened with sud-
den illness, like unto the attacks of sick
ness which have so frequently interior
red with their previous visits to the
south. Invitations to Confederate re-
unions have been ais productive of seri-
GUS fnoapacitatlng illnesses to Mrs. Va
rina Jefferson Davis, and her daughter,
Miss Winnist as exposure to typhoid or
ma1aria1 germs are to the majority of
people. Their long, uninterrupted resi-
dence in the cooler, calnler. more con-
genial atmosphere of New York and New
England may have restored their de-
pIeted systems, which at one time could
not stand many miles of travel through
the hot, dusty but enthusiastic south.
1t will not be ncessary to make any
elaborate plans for Mrs. and Miss Davis
entertainment until the New York Jour-
nal announces that they have conde-
scended TO spend few days at Nashville.
There is a young gentleman at the Age
Herald office who has for years devoted
himself loyalty to the paper, under its
different managementS.. He has faith in
its future, and thinks he knows every
body in Birmingham, because, everybody
worth Notwithstanding to his rea-
soning-subscnfbes for the Age-Herald.
This same faithful employee was asked
the name of q certain gentleman on
certain car few days ago. After look
ing at the gentleman without recognize
ing him, he promptly replied: Don't
know him; he don't take our paper"
BALL.