The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-13

the splendid new Masonic temple at SOuln
Perry and Washington streets, which is
said to be the handsomest and most con-
venently arranged building of its kind south
Of the Potomac river Mr.. Armstrong was
FOR four years superintendent of education
of the state, was speaker OF the house of
representatives at Montgomery, and was
CONSUL general of the United States at
Rio de Janero, Brazil from 1855 to 1889.
He won the personal regard of President
Cleveland and Secretary Bayard, and en-
joyed cordial personal relations with Dom
Pedro, the emperor of Brazil. Few men
in the foreign service of the government
during ohe first Cleveland administration
so distinguished themselves as Consul
General Armstrong. Since he assumed the
duties of Masonic grand secretary Mr..
Armstrong has not, as a matter of course,
taken an active part in politics. The place
of MIR. Armstrong; residence is Auburn,
the seat of the great college, with which
he has been so long connected in one way
or another.
1t is almost pity that there wasn't a
phonograph working in the room where the
Montevallo trustees held their meeting on
Saturday. There could have been some
mighty intrustin' reading ground out of
1t afterwards. 1.-THE meeting was exceed
ingly animated at times said one VINO
was present land things were warm
enough. Strong feeling against Reynolds
was manifested, and 1 was very sorry to
see it. 1 decline to discuss what was said
or to deal with the merits of the case as
regards the governor, Captain Reynolds
and Dr. Eager. But 1 do not believe that
the interests of the school have suffered
at all. I do not look for any falling off in
attendance. The meeting Of the trustees
was lively enough but in the end we had
a sort of ove-feast, and all was as well as
we could hope for"
"The admission that there is strong feel
ing against Captain Reynolds assumes an
interest it would not otherwise have, in
glew of the statement that a sub-commit-
tee of the trustees assisted by "a state ex-
aminer of accounts is even now proceed
ing at Montevallo to investigate Captain
Reynolds books and records said an in
telligent friend of the Girls school. with
out rejecting in the slightest degree upon
the sincerity of purpose of any trustee, 1t
is justifiable to doubt if any man having
strong feelings against another is quite in
a position to judicially examine and pass
upon the business transactions of him
against whom the feeling is entertained.
AS for the state examiners of accounts,
the public has come to know that they are
not infallible. Captain Reynolds and his
friends declare that he is fully prepared to
meet his inquisitors."
"Prof John Massey is but 50 years old,
not about seventy as has been stated, and
he is in the enjoyment of enviable physi-
cal and mental vigor," said ardent ad-
mirer and friend of the notable educator
of girls. Everybody will echo The Age
Heralds words of praise concerning the
man who has done more for the higher
education of girls than any other teacher
of this state. Prof. Massey is as remarka-
bic for his modesty as he is for his real
worth as a man. He has got no horn to
blow, but quietly and unobtrusively he
goes about his great work now with the
same high and unselflsh spirit that moved
him when he took charge of the Tuskegee
college twenty-five years ago. He is pos
which commands at once the love and rev.
erence of his pupils The pupils of no
school are happier than those of Tuskegee,
which is to the girls home in the higher
sense"
1t is understood that Prof. Massey will
be allowed ample time in which to fully
consider his election to the presidency of
the Girls school at Montevallo. He will be
officially informed of the action of the
trustees, and asked to accept in his own
good time. There is no difference of opin-
ion as to the wisdom of the trustees in
eleeting Prof Massey. His acceptance
would be great service to the state and
to the Girls school. The anxious question
is, will Prof Massey accept?
Colonel Alfred NJ O'Neal, of Florence,
whom great numbers of Alabamians and
people throughout the south know and
highly esteem, is suffering from painful
interruption in his holiday enjoyments. Col
onel O'Neal is laid up at his home in
Florence with a broken leg, caused By @
fall from the roof of his stable. He travels
most of the year in the interest of a large
New York mercantile house, and in the
summer has several weeks of vacation,
which he spends with his family. my
brother has craze for carpenter work."
is at home he spends his days working
about his place He will tear down fence
just for the fun of putting it up again, and
he has a belief that there Is always some-
thing wrong with the roofs of his out
houses The other day he was hammer
ing away on the roof of his stable, when
losing his footing, he fell and split the
bone of one of his legs. which causes him
very acute suffering. But he will soon be
around again all right"
Speaking of the Messrs. Alfred and
Emmett O'Neal, who share largely the
popularity of their late father, the twenty
sixth governor of Alabama recalls story
of their uncle. the late Judge Moore. In
the course of the trial of case before the
judge at Florence the late Leroy Pope
Walker, secretary OF war in jefferson
Davis cabinet, one Of counsel
in the case, got into some
sort of difficulty with a Florence
merchant who was in some way connected
with the trial. Judge Moore felt inpeled
to infict punishment on the lawyer and the
merchant for contempt of court. He fined
General Walker $50 and ordered the mer-
chant sent to Jail for twenty-four hours.