The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

as on previous days, leaden clouds had
hung low rain poured down in sweeping
sheets, and gloom prevailed. At o'clock
there was crimson glow resting on the
horizons verge to the westward; or maybe
1t was but suggestive of crimson light, so
soft it was. Almost instantly the light
spread and grew lighter and then, within
the moment of the falling and lifting of
eyelashes, there was spread along the low
cloud-ine a vast band of gold, incompara-
lively splendid, and having the power to
awe and to inspire Swiftly the band part
ed and the sunlight burst through in amaz-
ing splendor. Quick as the lightning paints
itself upon black heavens, the grey, cold af-
terrain clouds became golden half way to
the zenith, shading off into pale violet then
to fainter shades of dull silver. and so
across the dome of the world to the east,
where half way down the sunlight struck a
mighty mountain of white cloud-caps, turn
ing it to "a mass of fire The effect was
sublime!
During the twenty-four hours ended at s
o'clock yesterday morning. the rainfall in
Birmingham as registered by Observer
Jacobs, was two inches and one-third, the
heaviest fall for that length of time known
here in many years. The rain continued to
come down until after o'clock in the af-
terno0n, when the mercury began to fall
the atmosphere becoming very chilly before
6 o'clock. Saturday was a rainy day, and so
was Sunday, and the streams throughout
the district are flooded. 1.-THE creeks full"
as the rural phrase goes. Sunday night
about 10 o'clock a southerly gale began to
blow and it continued all night, and, with
lessened violence, until o'clock yesterday
afternoon. 1t reached its greatest violence
about 1:3O a. m, when 1T "blew great guns"
It was the strongest wind felt here in a
long time. It's force was terrific and many
of the inhabitants were entirely unable to
sleep. But little damage was done In the
city; but the railroads will be put to con-
siderable expense, for repairs to roadbeds
and entertainments.
Speaking of the sunset, fair young girl
sent last night these beautiful words:
Did you notice the sunset of last even
ming? Well, If you didn't, you missed a
spectacle that would have toned you for
week to come. Why, for a solid hour the
western sky was one glorious mass of ever
changing beauty-a perfect winter sunset.
But did not all the discord pour down in
Yesterdays showers, so nought but peace
and serinity and harmony and beauty, and
contentment and glory, and love and ever
lasting life were left to shine forth in that
evening sky!"
The extraordinary fall yesterday in
stocks. especially Tennessee, created con-
siderable concern in local financial and bus
mess circles. 1t is said that large amount
of Wall street stocks held in Birmingham
was dumped on the market by holders eager
To get out. one broker said he did more
business during the day than ne did during
the entire month of November various
explanations are offered for the slump,
said a man who studies the markets las
a matter of course, it is held to be due di-
reetly to dear money in New York AS to
the, cause of dear money, there are differ
ences of opinion. There are two prime
causes, in point of fact, either sufficient to
bring about a fall in the gambling chips OF
Wall street, Not within the past forty
years, if ever before, has the interior, the
provinces, if you please, owed New YORK
so little money as is due the metropolis at
the present moment. The entire country Is
prosperous-almost too prosperous for Wall
street PEOPLE are making money, and are
keeping it at home, for the very reason
that they do not owe 1T to New York BANKS
The bank deposits of Birmingham, for ex-
ample. exceed five million dollars, and are
the largest in the history of the town. The
bank deposits of most interior towns
throughout the country are unusually large.
There. is no necessity for sending this mo-
ney to New York and it will not be sent
there except on loan. New York, by that
same token, is likely to become heavy
| borrower from the interior banks. Another
potent cause for the stringency in Kew
York is that the country has not had time
| to assimilate the vast number OF new IN
dustries and business enterprises of this
| year of unparalleled material development.
| Enormous sums are locked up by this de-
| velopment, and for the moment are unpro-
duetiye. Five millions of new capital have
been brought into the Birmingham district
alone. and it's productiveness finds its real
beginning in the opening of the great steel
| pIan,t at Ensley. The time is past, it is well
enough to bear in mind, when Wall street
has power to cause serious financial trouble
out of the grasp of the Wall street gam
blers.'
IT am going to eat my plum pudding and
Christmas turkey with my mother at the
old home on the st. Lawrence, said Dun
can McPhee 1.-The plum pudding was made
last September, and L warrant you it was
we'll made a great deal of care being taken
to have it just right You know 1t is a
custom in the old country, that is followed
somewhat in Canada, to make the Christ
mas pudding in September, and every men,
Der of the family and household takes a
turn at stirring it, After the pudding is
properly made, 1T is put away carefully,
and is cooked on Christmas day at the same
time the other dishes for dinner are
cooked 1t is a serious business, the making
of the Christmas pudding. By the way, I
see a statement that over ten thousand
plum buildings have been sent to British
soldiers in South Africa by their folks at
home for Christmas dinner. Many poor