The age-herald., 1899-12-29
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

prevailed yesterday, blowing from the north northeast. At times it was almost half a gale, and was very chilly. Yet 1t was wonderfully bracing and invigorating. Rain fell all the day and night before, and was still falling when the dawn was spent. The clouds cleared hours before high noon and the sunlight was wonderfully bright through the remaining hours of the day. and went down a great golden disc. The afier-glow of the twilight was incompara- bly beautiful, and it remained for a half hour longer than is usual in this latitude The heaviest frost of this winter, so far, may be seen this morning.
 
 'Mabel Howard, who took the leading part as Zaza' in the emotional play of that name at O'Briens Wednesday night is a southern woman,' said a Kentuckian. "She was bred in old Kentucky having been born and reared in Louisville. She is very young for star. she is only about twenty-two and her work shows that she is perfectly honest in her devotion to her art The very fact that her voice takes lit- tie awkward turns as to the infections adds to the charm of her speech and her acting. The little catches of her tongue demon- strate that she is not a veteran of the stage; yet her acting is almost without fault. There is about her the freshness, spirit and vlvacity of young womanhood and the indefinable charm of unaffected in- noeence. It is really impossible that she fully comprehends the soul significance of
 ,tola rlaa e graphically interprets. Miss Howard is per haps the most beautiful woman on the American stage. Her form divine" is ao- solutely incomparable. She is a Hebe, in life and beauty and light the sculptor's and the poets dream. "A form more falr' face more sweet, ne'er hath it been my lot to meetn "
 J. K. Mcdonald, just chosen to be the vice-president and general manager of the Birmingham Realty company, which suc- ceeds the Elyton company, the latter the successor of the famous Elyton Land com pany was born forty-eight years ago near Union Springs, now the county seat of Bull lock county but then in Macon. In early life he removed to Montgomery, and secur- ed place in the banking house Of Josiah Morris where he remained for many years He won the warm personal attachment or MT Morris, who, by the way, builded Ihe Morris in Birmingham, as a monument to himself Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, MT. MOT ris and others of powerful influence united in securing for Mir Mcdonald in 1893 ap- naintment as a national bank examiner, place he resigned in 1897. His resignation was not acted on for several months. He came to Birmingham to manage the alaliS of the Elyton company, then In very un- satisfactory condition. He remained Tn the service of that company until US recent re- organization. MT. Mcdonald is business man of marked ability; and under ms inn mediate personal supervision the great BIT mingham Realty company is sure to pros ner The company will begin at once to eN- mend s2eO OO0lfn the improvement or us llh- mense property in this city.
 "A curious feature of the holidays Is the nresence in the city eff numerous men WHO eo to private houses asking Tor fooa' sau a resident of the South Highlands d-stract .sTl,is morning three of these men ealieu ot my house before breakfast, not aSKlhS fer, money. but seeking something to eat Tho men were evidently not ordinary
 
 tramns. for they appeared to be respect a1,1a enough. Besides, there are practically ,,o Ira r,r,s in Birmingham this winter. This is mt a good hanging out place for idlers or loalfers. There is work at good wages for everybody, and the ordinary tramp nyould he shown no sympathy. From other districts of the city than that in Whlch reside hear of this holiday begging. Inere are two reasons to advance for this uh- usual. even extraordinary, begging. The first is this: Honest workingmen cone to town for Christmas and exhausted thedr means q riotous living, and so are help- less Another probable fact that Is eX- nlanatory is that some Of .he men who go from house to house seeking aims are pro- fessional burglars who are endeavorlng 10 find out the best way to obtain unlawqul entrance into the homes Of laW-aoldlng citizens l hope I am not an unchantaoie man, and 1 should be grieved II any word Of mine deprived any deserving person of aid; but undoubtedly there are number of burglars and sneak thieves at work in this town. Several burglarfes have been recently committed in the South Highlands district. The trouble is the city hasn't got more than half enough policemen. The men on the regular force are overworked and underpaid.'
 The Christmas tree at the Elks' hall, provided by the noble Order of Elks for the Mercy Home and the children of the poor, was unques tlonably the greatest char ity of the holidays. Eight hundred pres en,ts, including baskets of fruits, sweets and food, were distributed to children to whom Santa Claus had been merely a dream; and to some families that were destitute gifts of food and raiment and even money were sent by special messengers. It was purely a work of charity organized by one of the most charitable and benevolent secret so- cieties in this or any other country. It is secret in it's own sessions; it ds public in its broad charities.
 D. w. McIver, the noted staff correspond