The age-herald., 1898-07-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

man of the democratic executive commit tee of Coosa county, was in the city yes- terday. MT. Smith is one of the ablest lawyers in East Alabama and lifelong, ''trGa blue" democrat.
 We are making a hard fight over in Coosa, and will elect our ticket" said MT. Smith. "Coosa has been going with the opposition for many years. but feel quite confident of success this year. At every election we have been reducing their ma jorities Six years ago we were worsted by majority of about 1,2OO; four years ago we reduced 1t to 800; two years ago to 40, and this year we expect a neat bal ance on our side. We have strong ticket in the field and all of the candidates are making a house-to-house and voter-to- voter canvass.
 'The population of our county is of rather a peculiar kind. Coosa covers an area of thirty-five miles long up and down the Coosa river. The eastern side is flat land, largely colored population, while the western is mountains, with a white popu- lation, and it is rough on man to make campaign over there. l am compelled to drive two horses, and then travel very slowly.
 Tt may sound strange when I tell you that there are people living in West Coosa 2l years old who have never seen negro,' continued MT. Smith. Tt is a fact A great many people grow up there in lit- tie neighborhood, possibly never getting more than three or four miles from the place they were born. Why, negro is big show to some grown people over there as is the elephant to the small boy. l remember, not many months since, going out about fifteen miles from Rockford to try very important case in a justices court, and, there being no suitable room in which to hold court it was convened under the limbs of a large oak by the road side. Just we had gotten well into the evidence there came by two negroes driv- ing some travelers, and actually court had to be suspended for several minutes, so curious were the people to gaze upon the black men. This is wonderful statement, but true.'
 In a group of a half dozen or more poli- ticians, including Colonel ". H. Denson a gentleman told good one on the effect of a big silver speech delivered by the colonel down in Sumter county last spring when the contest for nomination in that county was at fever heat.
 Ut was my very good fortune to be at Eppes the morning Colonel Denson spoke there," said the gentleman, who has tray led over the state a great deal. Early In the morning the people began to come to town, and by Il o'clock the hour for the speaking, there was crowd enough to com fortably fill the school house. Colonel Den son delivered one of the most eloquent and convincing free silver, 16 to 1 speeches that I have ever heard. It was simply unan- swerable, and nearly every man in the au- dience was converted to the silver idea. Congratulations were heaped upon him and so great was the ovation rendered him at his close that the county candidates could not get hearing until after dinner.
 About a month after this big speech was made, was again at Eppes, and farmer who lives near the town, MT. Hawkins, was exhibiting what considered the great est curiosity ever heard of in the way or chicken eggs. I had heard about the egg out west that had 16 to I on 1t, but l had thought it only the story of some bright newspaper chap. But the sumter county eggs were even greater oddities than the western egg. "A little hen just as game as Colonel Billy Denson laid these eggs, said MT Hawkins, as he pulled open It, tie cigar box to show me what 1t contained. Truly they were three curious eggs proph- esying what is bound to come. The one first shown me was really double egg, one about the size of a guina egg, joined by little neck on to one about the size of a sparrow's egg. On the large end of the egg appeared the figures 16 almost as plainly as if painted there in raised figures while on the small end was the figure T. This was truly 16 to I egg. The second egg shown me was also an odd-looklnS thing"
 It was about two inches long and slight ly crooked. The ends were yellow, While around the center was a white stipe In very plain letters Bryan, 19OO,' appeared on it. This prophesied the success of Bryan and bi-metallism in the next na- tional election
 The third egg was shaped like top and was as yellow as gold, and on one side very plainly appeared the word Mac, while on the other little hole had been bursted in the shell. This was the prophecy of the downfall of Mckinley and the gold standard. This was complete egg prophecy, and I am now the proud possess sor of these eggs to prove the story concluded the gentleman.
 He said no amount would purchase the hen from MT. Hawkins. Treats were on the colonel.
 Hon. J. B. Graham, of Talladega was in the city a few minutes yesterday MT. Graham was just from Morgan county, where he spoke for democracy Friday and yesterday.
 q had good crowds at Hanceville and Falksville." said MT. Graham. "The demo- crats will carry Morgan all right, feel quite sure. The two parties are holding separate campaigns and our meetings have been much more largely attended than those of the opposition. I am much grati- fled at the outlook in Morgan"
 Mr. Graham went to Cullman at o'clock in the afternoon with Chairman Robert J. Lowe. where they were billed for speeches last night. m ;.
 Colonel l.. D. Godfrey, solicitor of the Sixth judicial circuit, was in the city few hours yesterday route to his home at Gainesville from Atlanta, where he attend- ed the Confederate Veterans re-union. Colonel Godfrey was a gallant soldier and