The age-herald., 1898-04-27
THE STORY OF
 A LITTLE BRANCH
Has Caused Bad Blood Between
 Two BesSemer Cit- izenS.
Special to The Age-Herald.

Bessemer, April 26.-Some funny things happen sometimes A funny thing has just happened in Bessemer
 A. A. Wade has handsome iewelry store in Second avenue and besides ad- vances money on secondhand articles. Jeff Clay also deals in secondhand jewell ry, furniture, clothing, etc, and has an es- tablishment in Twenty-first street. Both are good citizens, and stand well in the community.
 Mir. Wade and MT. Clay are "out.' It happened in this way: MT. Clay lives in Berkeley avenue and Twentieth street. On the other side of the alley back of his house is Kings livery stable Here the buggies and other vehicles were washed and the drainage running down in MT. Clay's yard, became so annoying that he very naturally objected and made his com- paint to the city. The city fathers prompt ly referred the matter to the street com mittee of which MT. Wade is chairman. Mr. Wade is not a man to let the grass grow under his feet when working in a righteous cause, so he promptly gave or ders that the water from the stables should be allowed to run in the other direction, that is, towards Carolina avenue. This was done For few days all was serene Then the people of the Vancleare hotei, on the corner of Twentieth street and Caro- lima avenue entered a vigorous protest the water being permitted to come their way MT. Wade found himself between two fires. That water had to go some place. Where should it go?
 One morning Mr. Clay awoke and round that a ditch had been dug along the side or his house, and down this ditcn muooy ~a.e,
 l1rr htIo unbounded was his indignation. lie protest ed. Mr. Wade said he had done what ne could. An ultimatum followed It was ignored. War was declared.
 Mr. Wade has recently built himseil handsome new residence on the corner oi Arlington avenue and Twenty-first street. There is no more ardent patriot Tn town than he, so after his house had been paint ed a spotless white he had the trimmings made led and blue, so that the house as It stands today is a unique monument to his patriotism. It is in one of the most de- sirable residence portions of town.
 The lot on the opposite corner to MT Wade, and adjoining the residence or Post- master w. B. Gere, was vacant and IS own ed by Mr. Clay Soon after MT. Wade had moved into his new home, strange rumors began to be circulated as to MT. Clays s purpose regarding this lot The towns people watchd it with interest, and were soon surprised to sec erected two small tenement houses of two rooms each, which it was announced were to be occupied by negroes. In the course of time these houses were painted spotlcss white and at the { present writing they have trimmings of bright red and blue. They are occupied by colored people.
 It is safe to say Mr Wade doesn't like it. But what can he do? A man can not hold a monopoly on a certain way of painting a house.
 MT. Clay wears sly and knowing smile these days MT. Wades smile is pleasant and polite-quite his usual smile, in fact Exactly what thoughts Iie behind these smiles no man can tell.
 Meanwhile there is atmosphere of patriotism about certain part of Besse- mer that is positively oppressive. The en- tire Spanish army would take to their heels could they but see the sight.