The age-herald., 1898-11-08
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

| New York. Everybody in New York Is
 in the best of good spirits. and the general
 l opinion is that 1899 will be the most pros-
 porous year in the history of this country.
 All the indications point to unexampled
 trade and prosperity"
 How do the moneyed interests consider
 Blrmingham?" was asked.
 Never before so favorably. All the bus
 mess men and capitalists met talked Bir-
 mingham, and expressed the greatest con-
 fdence in this city. Never before has cap l ital regarded the Birmingham district in
 such rosy light as now. Any proposition | for legitimate investment in legitimate property will receive sympathetic hear l ing. The capitalists and investors gener- l ally think well of us. and talk as they l think. This is due to the fact that Bir- mingham and the district have demon l strated the desirability Of this locality as a l field for investment. and that we are try 1 ing to do something for ourselves. We are l showing confidence in ourselves, and capi- l tai at the north appreciates our own efforts 1 in our own behalf. Recent local industrial events have had powerful effect in the north, and we will reap great benefits. We l enjoy a greater degree of confidence in New 1 York today than we ever have before. And the confidence there applies to the l entire state of Alabama, and think de- servedly so. Joe Johnston Is making us l splendid governor. and his practical busi- ness-like Administration, his methodical l habits and his reputation as a successful l business man have combined to win the 1 confidence of capital in the north, and he l has in that way, as in others, done the l state great good.
 1T never before felt so proud of being l citizen of Birmingham and an Alabam'an.
 I am proud to say my home is in Bir-
 mingham, Ala The way they talked in l New York made me proud"
 | Mr. Bowrons remarks will come as words of great good cheer to Birmingham l and to all Alabama. He is an able, far seeing business man, and he had ready ] access to the great representatives of I capital in New York He observed, and what he discovered is of interest to all the people of Alabama.
 ."Possums are ripe at the head of Jones' Valley said Major Mccoy "I have been l the United States officer in charge of l distillery three miles and half above l East Lake, in the hills, for thirty days, | and I had a great time. We kept some l thing of bachelors hall, and had more | chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, and possum and other game than you could shake stick at. Never saw anything like it in my life. Every good thing to eat, and most excellent mountain dew to wash 1t down with. 'Possums, there are possums everywhere, and sweet taters to cook with them. Why, you can go out for half | hours stroll in the woods and bag the | fattest 'possum that ever you saw. brought one home with me last night-a l big fat fellow-and determined to keep ;! him for thanksgiving dinner"
 What Possum for thanksgiving Certainly. Turkey is nothing to com pare with 'possum. Nothing else ever yet eaten by man was equal to 'possum and l taters properly cooked. It is the most delicious dish imaginable. It is beauti full dream in gastronomy. Ah!"
 True. o King, but what about the one you brought home?"
 Put him in box when got home, and I'll be hanged if he didn't get away last night and is now somewhere on Red mountain! Possibly he will be captured and furnish forth sport for drag 'possum hunt of society folks. He is a noble pos sum and deserves better fate. Oh, how miss him-how greatly I shall miss him on Thanksgiving day!'
 "The two modern Dromios are in town- Dromios with variations from the originals. They are twin brothers, and their most in- innate friends cannot tell them one from another,'' said a lawyer. "They are exact | ly of the same height. weight, chest meas urement, and so on, and have identically the same personal appearance. The one wears a mustache of the same length and trim as the other wears; they wear the same shade and shape of necktie, the same shape of collar, the same shade and cut of trousers, waistcoat, coat and topcoat; the same block of hat, and the same sort of shoes. Their watchchains are identical, and so are their watches likewise their shirt-studs and cuff-links. They smoke the same brand and grade of cigars, walk alike, speak alike laugh alike. When one takes beer the other takes beer. They travel to- gether, eat together, sleep together, dream together, and 1t is solemny averred that when one of them has the toothache the other suffers pain from the corresponding  | tooth in his own head. They take cold at the same time and to check it they take identical quantities of quinine. They are the. most remarkable pair of brothers probably | in the world. Both are good-looking, bright, smart, well-dressed and universal 1v popular Their names are Gus and Ike Lebolt they are New York drummers, and are frequently seen in Birmingham. They are here now, and you may see them on the streets today"
 | Ed deGraffenreid, of Greensboro, one of | the most prominent young lawyers and pol | iticians of Alabama, spent yesterday in | town on legal business F ormerly he rep | resented Greene county in the lower house | of the legislature, and took a leading part 1 in the debates. He is a tall, strikingly handsome man, and makes friends every where he goes. He removed to Greensboro several years ago and became the law l.;c Jota ha 1o roa tad