The age-herald., 1899-05-24
IN HOTELk0BBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

politician during the next twelve or nIteeh months," said an Alabamian of distinction. "It will be unfortunate for himself and fog tho community at large if he should deter- mine to take an active part in politics. no matter what the inducement or provocation might be- for the American public is so ac- customed to seeing the preacher hold him- self aloof and above the filth and scandal and scramble of practical politics that any fall on his part in that direction would come as a shock to the people. And it would be an interference In purely secular affairs that would be certain to arouse an ugly spirit of resentment. Political fight ing for the next year or two will be very bitter at best-possibly the bitterest expe- rienced in the state since before tho civil war; and certainly it would be the desiro of the great mass of voters that tho preacher keep to the established lines of his sacred occupation"
 Secretary Asa Rountree says that he win send out in g. few days to the members of the Alabama Press association circulars giving details as to the press meeting in Birmingham Juno 14, and the subsequent excursion tp Niagara Falls AccoEding tp afransemcrtS already made. tho e1rursion will leave this city Juno 1a and the trip to Niagafa and return tvili require about one week-four days of travel and two days of sightseeing MI. Rountree has arr ranged for reduced hotel rates, and has also secured reduction in the charges for visiting the points Of interst about the falls. The circulars now promised would have been sent to members sometime ago; but MT. Rountree has been unexpectedly delayed in arranging for transportation from the Ohio river to Niagara, An ex- ceedingly pleasant trip Is promised the newspaper folk
 Just now when we are getting well into what promises to be very hot summer; which, whether hot of temperate, we know will cover at least four mouths the sight of fura and otheP heavy winter goods is disagreeably tantalizing Yesterday noon when the thermometer was registering riotous figures up amongst he nineties, an energetic and hustling drummer was ob- served crossing the blazing street with an armful of furs. It gave one sort of shock.
 
 'I have had two weeks of very success ful and satisfactory winter trade," said popular commercial traveller. My sales have been quite as good as could desire, and consider the outlook for a good trade throughout the season to be excellent. Merchants are hopeful of the fall and win ter business, and are buying rather more literally than usual. Of course, travellers n during the summer for timely delivery be- fore cold weather sets in"
 Dr. I. D, Morgan, of Hutaw. one of the most honored citizens of Greene, is in Bir- mingham on business.
 We are needing rain badly throughout our sectlon," said Dr. Morgan, flor we are having quite drought That Is incon- venient, but it does not follow that 1t is permanently hurtful to the crops. A dry May always insures fine crops. I never knew 1t to fail in any instance, and my observation and experience cover fifty years. The current month has been es- peeially dry, and has given farmers ample opportunity to kill all the grass and to give the crops thorough working out. This is the real reason why dry May makes good crop year. So we may this year look for abundant harvests."
 
 Hon. John w. Tomlinson left last night for St. Louis to attend an important con- ference of the national leaders of the democracy. Those invited include mem- bers of the national committee, and some other representative free coinage men conspicuous in the councils of the demo- cratic party. Mr. Bryan will be present, and he and Governor Stone, of Missouri. will take active part in the deliberations of the meeting, which is called to consider party business and matters of special policy with a view to an active campaign that will extend to the presidential election in 1900. It is thought that an address to the people of the United States will be issued, as we'll one to the democratic party as political entity.
 Stories of good nshing-not good fish stories, for there is wide distinction be- tween the two-are always interesting and are just now especially so. Hon. Ross c. Smith, having grown amiably envious of Hon. John Mcqueen because of the lat ter's great luck on the gulf coast, has promised something of his own achieve ments with or in the plscatorial line. Meantime E. L. Bridges relates that be- tween 5:30 and 10 o'clock Monday morning he and his little son caught over seventy fine bream in the lake at Hulps, dozeI miles below Tuscaloosa. He also landed large number of blue cats, one of which was eighteen inches long and gave him as good sport as he ever had. This powerful specimen of the catfish was caught wtsh bream hook, and a very poor one at that. Mosquitoes at Hull's, MT. Bridges ayers, are of enormous size and unpre- cedented bloodthirstiness. They are fierce fighters from who laid de chunk. Hon. Walter s. White. of Colbert, the au- ditor of the state, and candidate for the democratic nomination for governor next