The age-herald., 1899-08-26
IN HOTEL LOBBTES
 AND ELSEWHERE

stopping before a window belonging to store in Twentieth street, where one can buy almost any little article for 10 cents. In one corner of the window was what is commonly known as a money holder consisting of square tin box, about half an inch deep. with four receptacles for holding coins of the denominations of nickels, dimes, quarters and half-dollars. To illustrate how the holder was worked the entarprsing merchant placed coin of the denomination indicated in each one of the receptacles, amounting in all to 90 cents.
 The countryman gazed at the holder for several minutes without moving. Then he slyly dived down in his pocket and fished up stub pencil and dirty scrap of paper. He figured intenty for the space of two minutes. replaced the pencil in his pocket and walked into the store with the air of a man who knows it all. Say young fei- low" he called to one of the salesmen. T wanter buy one CT them thar tin pocket books" The salesman reached into box under the counter and produced one Shall I wrap it up?" he asked.
 "I don't want that 'un: want tn one in tn winder," the courtryman said. The clerk was very obiging. He silently placed the holder in the box, walked to the snow window, took out the holder the country man had indicated and with his thumb slid the money from the receptacles. Then he walked over to the wrapping counter, rolled a piece of paper quickly around the holder and turned to hand it to the purchaser. Ript the ntrchaser had fled.
 
 Some one was speaking of the lack of parks in Birmingham in the hotel lobbies column of The Age-Herald the other day. and I want to endorse every word of what they said.' 1he speaker was young civil engineer of the city. 'I invited very dear friend Of mine, of Baltimore, to visit me not long ago. In writing to him spoke of what a nice time we could have when he came When he did come one of the first things he asked was: What kind of parks have you here?' Then had to in- form him that, practically speaking, we had no parks; that when people got tired of the heat and dust they were compelled to go to East Lake or North Birmingham park or somewhere else, as the city had made no provision for them. When he left he expressed himself as highly pleased with Birmingham in every particular ex- cept this. He said he thought it was shame that city the size of this should be without park. and wondered why the city authorities did not improve Capitol park, which offers such a field for improve ment."
 "One of the principal features of the coming state fair said a merchant from Lowndes county twill be the rivalry among the small country towns. Down in my section of the country 1t is intense, and each little town feels that it will be almost a disgrace to allow itself to be outdone by one of its neighbors. The citizens are not at all miserly with their money, either. They are determined that their town or county shall not be outdone under any circumstances. I'm afraid that there will be some little bitterness developed by this state of affairs, though of course it will be only temporary But just watch what I say. There'll be hot times at the fair when it comes to a contest between the counties and smaller towns"
 A druggist was speaking yesterday of the
 
 daily in this manner. He declared it a nuisance. "A fellow could stand it if there was any music in the souls of the singers. They sing nothing but coon songs. and the majority of these were long ago out of date. understand that the city council is willing to suppress this method of advertis- ing to a certain extent if some citizens will register e kick. think I'll do it myself soon, if some one else doesn't"
 Hon. M W. Howard, of Fort Payne, was in Birmingham yesterday. Colonel Howard is working with his characteristic energy and enthusiasm for the up-buiding of Fort Payne and the development of the sur rounding section. He reports that his town is progressing very satisfactorily to those interested in her growth and future pros- perity. Colonel Howard reports that 1t is now an assured fact that Fort Payne will soon have a cotton factory. In additoin to this new industry arrangements have been perfected for the establishment of fine school there. The magnificent sanitarium building will be converted into place of learning. The services of one of the most prominent educators of the country have D6eA SSCuttN dHu duiOSStuSE rOTL fayu6 will soon be in position to boast of her superior educational advantages.
 After ali." said The Man About Town, ''the Twentieth street crossing is not the only pebble on the beach. It will grow less important instead of more important. for the union station must be extended to Eighteenth street in order to accommodate new incoming roads, and then we will have with us an Eighteenth street problem. The union station can be extended in only one direction, and that will be to Eighteenth street. and even then the sta- ton will be crowded. Three large systems are headed this way. and all three will knock at the gates of the station for ad- mission"
 When the other end of the railway sta- tion abuts on Eighteenth street, then this town will see development that will be slightly astonishing. The Man About Town predicted that a great hotel would follow, located perhaps opposite the gov- ernment building, and Loveman. Joseph &