The age-herald., 1898-02-13
MATT MINOR Moptoonern Rr1ir"S1 as ? doo0 Town


 people say it is. I am impressed with the
 belief that Montgomery is very far in ad-
 vance of Birmingham in many respects. l When it comes to cleanliness it is as far
 ahead of Birmingham as Paris is of Lon
 don. The streets of Montgomery are
 swept daily and they are swept properly.
 Sidewalks are swept every day as they l should be- had never seen much of Montgomery until the day before yester- l day. I had been told by the people in Bir
 mingham that Montgomery was a lazy,
 dead town. From personal observation.
 I am glad to say that everything I have | heard derogatory to Montgomery is based upon falsehood and not truth. I do not
 know who is responsible for making the 1 capital a clean and beautiful city. If the
 mayor is responsible for it, he is the right
 man in the right place. If the city council
 is responsible for it, the citizens have
 shown wisdom in. selecting the proper men l for aldermanic positions.
 l A great many people were emphatic in saying last summer that the yellow fever would kill Montgomery. This seems to be
 another error. l do not believe I ever
 saw city of Montgomery's population possess greater indications of commercial activity than was seen on the thorough l fares there last Friday. The city is not l only kept remarkably clean, but it is well | paved. The science of municipal govern
 ment has made splendid progress in Mont l gomery. The city is well lighted, and the interests of the public seems we'll and
 properly cared for. It doesn't look like 1 either a backwoods or a frontier town. It l has the appearance of being a well-gov- erned, solid, conservative, yet progressive, l business city. Montgomery teach Bir- mingham great many things to Bir- | mlngham's advantage
 Clever lot of people in Montgomery. Have the faculty of making stranger feel l at home. While they are busy, they are
 not too busy to be always polite. Some l mighty good things about the Montgomery | men. They are not always inviting you to l take a drink. I have no doubt they drink l when they feel like it, but it doesn't seem
 to be a general custom, as it Is in other
 cities of the south.
 It seems that every woman in Mont l gomery owns horse and buggy. The l streets appear to be fairly filled with fine | looking horses and handsome turn-outs, 1 the occupants being ladies. I never saw | so many pretty girls in one day outside of | the very large cities. I had often heard l that Montgomery was noted for its beau l tiful women. Its reputation is not unde- l served. They seem to be triflle shy, but they will get over that in time.
 
 l The chief object of interest in Mont l gomery, especially to strangers, is the cap- l itol building. In many respects it is not
 unlike the capitol building in many other | states. As I walked up the capitol steps | to the entrance I was shown the star | marking the place where Jefferson Davis, 1 on the 18th day of February, 1861, stood l while he took the oath of office of presi- | dent of the Confederate States. That star | marks one of the most dramatic epochs in | the history of the republic. What vol l umes of history have been made since l that eventful datei How many changes | have been made in the map of the country l during the past thirty-seven yearsi Com l ing so closely in contact with the place where this great history-making power l had assembled. naturally called to my mind flood of recollections, passing from | the historic year, 1861, down to the pres l ent time. Few men today living who were participants at the birth of the Con- l federacy. The spot where MT. Davis I stood upon that occasion is as sacred to | the memory of those who participated in l the great struggle as are Mt. Vernon, I Charleston or Bunker Hill to the patriotic | sons and daughters of reunited people. | -.
 l It is the proper thing when visiting the l state house to call upon the governor. l That's a duty that every man owes to his state. While the office of governor is l not merely an honorary one, in the gov ernor is reflected the dignity of the state itself. had never before seen Governor l Johnston in his office. Before anyone can | see the governor, however, it is essential | to be on good terms with his privte secre- | tary. Mr. Cory, the governors private | secretary, is a modest unassuming gentle | man. There not any frills about Mir. Corys office. Mr. Cory is not only demo- | crat in politics, but he is democrat in | ideas, customs and habits. I told him I would be very glad to see the governor if | the governor would allow himself to be | looked at. MT. Cory didn't ask me for my | card, nor did he attempt to search me to