The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-24
Alabama Birthday
Anniversary Celebration

The recent patriotic celebrate in this
CITY of the states birthday anniversary
was unioue and successful Every detail of
the program and decoration had been care
fully planned by the director, Mrs. w. H.
Sorsby, and was finely executed. Inc &C.
casion will go down in history as the nrst
observance of the birthday anniversary OF
Alabama as a state, 1S19-99, though our
general history extends back more than 2Oo
years The assembly room was tastetuiiy
decorated in bunting and flags, ivy, palms
and exquisite cut flowers, and presented
charming appearance in the bgilliance OF
electric lights and waXen tapers.
Mrs. R. II. Pearson introduced Mrs w.
f. Sor5by vice president of the Alaoama
Historical society and director OF history
in the Birmingham Woman's CLUB, VINO
conducted the exercises in the happiest
vein but with an undercurrent OF deepest
patriotism.
Hero Hobson March" (MemolD-Mr. S.
A. Reid.
ALABAMA History Commission" -Colonel
S. w. John.
Recitation, Miss Fay Harris.
Revived Patriotism''-1on. Rufus N.
Rhodes.
"Star-Spangled Banner" Eighteen pupils
of Powell school, directed by Misses kits
and Bostick
1.-The Modern Woman in Historical Re-
search"-.Mrs. George C. Ball.
cd A. r. Work in Alabama"-Mrs. j..
Morgan Smith.
"Dixie"-Misses Brown, Goldstein, Cam
eron Pulliam, Delheim and Lykes, directed
by Mrs. +. d. Lykes.
Following the rendition of this program
the folding doors between the lecture room
and tea room were thrown open, revealing
a table with snowy damask, small flags
and trailing vines, and a large cake upon
which were burning eighty tiny candies
red white and blue-one for each year of
the states history. No pretter taoleau
could have been presented. The honor of
cutting the cake was conferred upon Mrs
r. H Pearson, the president of the Wo-
mans club. A feature was the ribbon can
DIV striped red white and blue. The hand
some embossed cake. with its eighty can
dies, and ribbon candy were gifts to the
history department by its director, Mrs.
w e. Sorsby, from whose brain the idea
originated. The usual club refreshments
were served. and were in charge of the
house committee The ladies who assisted
Mrs Sorsby in receiving were Mesdames
Ball, Pearson, FAC Smith and members of
the history department of the Woman's
club.
A number of letters and notes of con-
graduation were received by Mrs. Sorsby
encouraging her in her patriotic, laudable
and successful attempts in bringing this
subject more forcibly before the people.
Governor Joseph f. Johnston, who expect
ed to speak, and to whose heart this sub
iect is very dear, sent a note of regret. as
it was impossible to attend. Dainty boxes
of birthday cake, with souvenir candles
were sent him and others. At the conclu-
sion of the programme, Mrs. Sorsby thank
ed the participants and audience for the
enthusiastic assistance and appreciation
shown. and announced that the anniversary
xr-;11 u oil
IA. in a larger hail. and patriotic societies
throughout the state invited to participate
Communications have been sent to COVER
nors of the states requesting their co-opera-
ton and urging appropriate observance OF
each states birthday anniversary. Mrs.
Sorsby was formerly Miss Idyl King of Mo-
bile, family of worth and prominence.