The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-20
OF THE STREET
3 AND HOTEL 10 BBIES

aaH
said Cen Joseph Wheeler. the represent
tative from the North Alabama district
who knows almost every one of his con-
stituents by name.
Il suppose you would term 1t foot
race" he continued. 1T was a race be-
tween myself and another congressman,
MIR. Belknap, of Michigan.
There was a large gathering at Pc
tersburg, Va, and we both CHANGED to
be there. Some one made a remark
about my being old. I told them yes,
l was probably the Oldest man on the
ground, yet 1 would. make them propo-
sitlon. I offered to run a foot race
against any man in the crowd. The
question of selecting my opponent was
left to the ladies ard they chose Mr..
| Belkrap. A committee of gentlemen laid
off a quarter of mile track.
1--WE dropped our coats. some said go
| and we went will never forget how
one portion Of the crowd appeared ex-
cited while the other pitied me for rum
ming against a younger man.
II knew it would require some streng tn
to do SO and I would not look to the
right or left. 1 could tell by the sound
eff our feet that 1 was gaining. knsw
it wasn't more than two inches at first
but gained little more and when we
crossed the lire I was winner by a nose.
"The crowd cheersd and Belknap want
ed to have it over. 1 told him he could,
have it over told him he could do so,
but champagne for the crowd would be
the consideration in the next one. At
this he backed out
Representative John Wesley Gaines of
| Tennessee is one of the few public men
who believed in Bryan before the Chi
| oago convention.
Mr.. Gaines yet talks enthusiastically
| of Bryan. His day ait the Centennial
| was the greatest event of the existence
| of the Exposition" said he yesterday.
| Mr.. Gaines is a very enthusiastic work.
er for the south, and has had much
| weight in getting the arnor plate board
| to visit this section.
|
do you know there are machines for
| making the pith from cornstalks into
/ packing" said prominent travelling
man yesterday. ut is said to be much
| safer against penetration than many
other harder substances.
Probably 1T is like palmetto wood"
| he continued. II remember that when
| Charleston was bombarded the fort of
masonry was soon destroyed and fort
| of palmetto logs thrown up. The bull
| let's buried in this and did no harm. I
| remember another instance where a fort
was kept up for days by grain sacks.
| These sacks would be riddled in day
time but at might they would be re-
plenished.'
Three Birmingham young men COM
ceived the idea of going on a "hobo."
Accordingly they boarded southbound
Alabama Great Southern train and soon
left the Magic City far behind.
In few days they returned, looking
much the worse for their outing, and
with a true understanding of the old
refrain, There's no pace like home"
| To a sympathetic friend they related
| an outline of their experiences.
1--WE rode twenty miles, walked thirty
slept on the ground, slept in a chair
'bummed something to eat, stole some
| thing to eat, worked for something to
eat, and went hungry.
I'VE secured work on the Mobile and
Ohio extension below Tuscaloosa, drove
mules carried water, wer= abused, sworn
at, and made to feel unpleasant gener-
ally. The only good nights rest we
had was in a box car.
1--WE are glad to get back home, as
working on the dump consists in more
rows than roses
Then they proceeded sadly up the street
wondering how many people they met
'.hobo.''
1.-THE people of Birmingham are deeply
interested IN Inc armor plate plant and
all are anxious ITO secure it," said M A.
Hays. press agent of the Southern rail-
way, yesterday.
ION going to my hotel yesterday I
was shown to my room by diminutiva
bell boy who is evidently a true Bir-
minghamian. After he had deposited
my grip in the center of the room he
started ito retire.
"He went half way out of the door,
but stopping short, he returned and said,
Mister will Birmingham get the plate
factory When even the urchins are in