The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE


Mitchell. of the Dwight cotton factory ae
Gadsden, Alabama had 1926 spindles and
2sS1 looms in cottoii mills. Since 1894. or
within four years, there have been added
pa 26s spindles and $3.50 LOOMS making a
grand total in the state of.-ss9.5Si spindles
and S,1O1 looms This increase is enormous,
but it is, in fact, only slight indication
of what we are warranted in expecting in
the near future. The cotton mills of the
future will be built in the cotton fields.
The greatest two cotton factories in the
state are the Dwight and the Tallassee.
The Dwight at Gadsden, will soon have in
operation 10000 spindles, and the Tallassee,
in Elmore county, 10000. We working
overtime at the Dwight in doubling our
capacity. They are now putting the roof
on the extension of the Tallassee factory.
increasing the capacity of that famous mill
$4,000 spindles at cost of 100000.
Cotton mill men have become somewhat
alarmed over proposed factory legislation
at Montgomery, but we hope that the linz
mediate danger of restrictive measures is
passed. Restrictive legislation at this time
would be very detrimental to the moss
promising industry the state has, apart
from minerals. 1t it being sought to pre-.
scribe the age of operatives, and those who
favor such action by the legislature declare
that nearly all the states have followed
that line. North and South Carolina have
not and those two states have more spin
dies and looms than all the other southern
states combined. AT the moment we have
over 600 operatives at the Dwight factory,
and less than twenty of these are II years
of age, and they earn living for dependent
parents If certain proposed legislation
should be adopted we should get rid of all
our child labor, for we couldn't run the
risk of mourning penalties. 1t wouldn't be
worth while"
There are excellent reasons for the belief
that matters are shaping themselves for
the erection In Birmingham of magnfi-
cent office building, concerning which The
Age-Herald has already given out much
gossip. Two distinct interests have the
project in view-one southern, the other
eastern-and it is most probable that there
will be practical developments very shortly.
Such building as that contempla ted, ten
stories high and with every appliance for
comfort, luxury and speed, would doubtless
prove to be paying investment. 1t would
require year perhaps to complete such a
building, and by the time it was ready for
tenants every office in it would have been
rented. The tide of business of enterprise,
and investment is flowing on to Birming-
ham. and it gains strength every hour. And
the learned professions are largely repre-
sented. Within the last few months some
twenty lawyers from other cities have ,
come here to reside.
AS to the talk about great hotel It is
known that some eastern business men de-
sire to make such investment Indeed,
they made the offer some months ago to
put up here 100000 or 900 house upon
certain conditions. A grand hotel any,
where in the district bounded by Morris and
Fifth avenues and Eighteenth and Twenty
second streets would prove to be a gold
mine, because the hotel accommodations of
the city, excellent and justly praised as
they are, cannot be claimed as adequate
even now. Within a short time they will
be hopelessy inadequate.
81 believe that every man has another
self, a sort of astral body perhaps" OBJ
served a lounger in the lobby last night.
you know perfectly the personal appear
ance of Hon. John B. Knox, of Admission,
and Judge Price Williams, of Mobile, for
you have known them since you were al
most boy. Well, within five minutes you
will see both of those distinguished gen.
tlemen here in the lobby and yet know
that actually in flesh and blood John Knox
is In Admission and Price Williams in Mo-
bile. Have a cigar"
The lounger and his listener burned to-
bacco placidly, and waited.
by George, there is Price Williams or I
am dreamingv exclaimed the listener, sud-
denly.
Just as L told YOU quietly remarked
the lounger. "And If you look backward
over your lett shoulder you will see John
Knox in the act of buttoning his overcoat''
1t the lounger said. There stood
the other selves of Knox and Williams 1t
was almost uncanny, and the listener in
voluntarily shivered. 81 know how you
feel" said the lounger. ''Felt that way
myself when l first saw these two astral
bodies. Never felt SO queer but once in
my life before, though l have seen many
astral bodies, other selves, or whatever you
may call them. Look! There is the calm
dignity of John Knox, the contour of his
strong face, his dreamy, but intensely PEN
etrating eyes. Again. there is dapper Price
Williams, with his cose-cropped grayish
mustache, his 1.-THE figure and his ever
present military air.
did ever you see your own other self?
No? l did once, and in a way that made
me fear L was mad. l was sitting in the
lobby of the Florence several years ago
talking to friend. l sat facing the clerks
desk, and suddenly l seemed to see myself
standing at the desk. l clutched my
friends arm in sheer fright. Look, look
l asked him, excitedy. Who Is the man
leaning over the register?' He looked and
almost jumped to his feet he swore vio-
lently it was myself. The situation was
painful. The man left the desk and walk
ed to the elevator, passing within two
yards of where sat. He was my exact
image. With dazed feeling l approached
the hotel clerk and asked him who his
guest was.
(Which guest? he asked abruptly.
. % the man who this moment