The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-01
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

was radiant beyond compare. There was
not a cloud in the sky, and even the grey
smoke of Birmingham became golden and
the houses, the roadways, everything was
gilded in the softest of all hues that par
take of that which the poet called bright
and yellow, hard and cold-god gold. gold"'
Singularly enough the crowds in the streets
were smaller than on rainy day. In the
Hobbies there was practically nobody. At
one time there were but five persons in the
lobby of the leading hotel. That was. at
8 o'clock in the afternoon. The atmosphere
was radiant; it was glorious. 1t had taken
on luminous quality, seen in this valley
for the second time within a year and pos
sibly not to be seen again for half life
time. 1t was a day enhancing enough
to steal from life all it's cares and send old
men forth to shout like boys playing ball in
suburban streetsl The wind blew from the
south its balmy breath recalling to one the
words of an old-world song, "Oh, winds
that blow from the south-whisper and l
shall heari"
The weather is topic as old as Eden;
but in all seriousness 1t is come to be
very serious problem throughout the min
eral district, and, 1t is understood in the
agricultural districts as we'll. Industrial
progress Is weeks behind the normal con-
dition. Everything is backward. Building
operations have been almost entirely sus-
pended on account of abnormally bad
weather. The great steel plant is said to
be seven weeks behind time in it's contsruc-
ton. Mining operations have been retacd-
ed, and it is predicted that unless good
weather comes quickly half the industrial
establishments of the district will be forced
temporarily to suspend operations. The
shortage In the coal supply is very serious;
the extraordinarily cold weather having
brought about an unexampled consumption
of that commodity and at the same tme
decreased the output.
Speaking of coal, a higher level of prices
Is inevitable This is likewise true of pig
iron. The coalmasters have contracts that
will require some months to fill, and as yet
they have not enjoyed the advantages of
the remarkable Industrial activity; but
their time is coming soon. Today the coal
miners will begin to receive an increase of
2A cents ton. which means an increased
cost to the coalmasters of cents ton-a
matter of immense Importance to COM
tain to advance still further Last weeks
engagements for export of southern iron
aggregate 10000 TONS 1t is understood
that the southern furnaces have sold their
products for months in advance In view
of these facts it comes misfortune
that the abomnable weather should inter-
fere with industrial operations.
There was a picturesque, and, at tho
same time, comical spectacle observed at
Second avenue and Twentieth street yes
terday. A small negro boy, perhaps seven
years old, was walking bravey along the
way arrayed in complete Scotch outfit,
kilt and ALL including the Glengarry cap
| with the cocks feather Between the tops
of his regulation stockings and the bottom
of his regulation kilt his fat, black little
legs were as bare as if he were amongst
the hills of Argyle. Whence he came,
whittier he went nobody knew nobody
cared but he was a bit of color In a
bright afternoon.
If this day were the 10Th of February It
would be the anniversary of the birthday
OF Hon. Frank P. O'Brien, the popular
sheriff of Jefferson. But as the calendar
stands Sheriff O'Brien will have to wait
until 1904 before he can celebrate his birth
day; he having been born on the 10Th day
of February Heretofore he has been hav-
ing birthday celebration every four
years, when he entertained a few of his
personal friends and made merry in his
great-hearted way. But, owing to some
freak of the Gregorian calendar the sheriff
must go eight years without a birthday
anniversary. This is ''hard lines on the
sheriff; but he will have to put up with it.
Sheriff O'Brien is fifty-two years young
Colonel J. A. Montgomery was down yes
terday after two months attack of pneu-
monia, and his friends were glad to see
him out again. Colonel Mon gomery sur
fered from an attack OF the grippe, which
developed into pneumonia, and his condi-
ton for some weeks was very critical.
Everybody will be glad to know that he
is now rapidly regaining his strength.
Mr.. Claude Seals returned to the city
yesterday after spending two or three
weeks his noble estate, Seven Mile
| island, in the Tennessee river, between the
| counties of Colbert and Lauderdale. Mr..
| Seals recently acquired this property, as
| stated in The Age-Herald, and is preparing
| to remove there to take up his permanent
| abode. Fortunate man, Mr.. Seals! For
| tunate beyond most men known to one in
| the world. He will be the real lord of the
forest, the actual monarch of all he sur
veys. And he deserves it all, too; for no
| better fellow lives He has gathered to-
gether a splendid library, for example;
| realizing that amongst good books man
| has companionship of the gods. Mr. Seals
is to be congratulated. Assuredly he Is to
| be envied.
Mr.. David MacRea, of Morog, Maxwell
Park, Glasgow, is looking around Birming-
ham, and doing SO with a Scotchman's
shrewd intelligence and abiding conserva-
tism. Mr.. MacRea comes from one of the
| greatest cities of the old world to the most
| promising town of the new He is a citizen