The age-herald., 1899-10-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

AND ELSEWHERE The Reverend Father R. A. Lennon, the superior of the Sisters of Charity of the United States has arrived in Birmingham, and will remain here a fortnight, the guest of Father O'Reilly, the universally esteem ed parish priest, and of the Sisters of Char ity at St. Vineents hospital Father Len non is, in plain English the business man of the Sisters of Charity in this country. He conducts their larger business undertak- ings in the cause of charity, manages the pressing financial side of charty's labor in the cause of humanity The good fathers noble intellect and sagacity, his love for do- ing good because it is good to do it, combine to make him one of the most notable men m the Catholic church in America. When it is | considered that the Sisters of Charity own and conduct thirty-six splendid hospitals in the United States, requiring the expendi- ture of an enormous sum of money, con- tributed by the knd-hearted and generous public it will be easy to perceive that Fath- CT Lemons duties are exacting. The Sis ters of Charity in Birmingham, who now conduct St. Vincent's hospital, temporarily in the DeBardeleben mansion, are f1iirryins to completion on the South Highlands the most perfectly appointed hospital building south of Baltimore. When completed the new building will have cost something like $150,000. The sisters hope to take possession of their new quarters in March April next.
 During the war between the states, by camp fires and on the march, l smoked a tobacco pipe, and 1t was great comfort to me-" said Dr. H. M. Weedon, of Eufaula, who was surgeon in the confederate ser vice. Cautiously enough, when I returned home after the war was ended, the pipe be- came so distasteful to that the odor of it was very annoying I couldn't comfort ably remain in a room where pipe was be- ing smoked. This puzzled and at the same time annoyed, me. One day, two or three years after the close of the war. I was standing in the door of my drug store. An old negro passed by smoking pipe The odor from that pipe reached my nostrils and it was delicious. I was astonished, and was at once reminded of my own wartime pipe. The longing for a smoke as l used to enjoy it was so strong with we that I forthwith procured pipe, fired it up, and have been pipe-smoker ever since. Look at this.'' and the doctor drew from his pocket black lit- tie bTiar-root with the remark, "There is nothing like it.''
 'T consider Birmingham a well governed city," said Dr. Weedon one of the largest owners of Birmingham real property. '"The taxes are low for a new cty-low enough, it seems to me; and the general govern ment of the city regard as being excel lent. The present. condition of things here is very satisfactory, the outlook most promising. With solitary exception, my holdings here give me satisfaction; and soon there will be no exception at all'' William A. Gayle of Montgomery, large owner of Blackbelt cotton lands, ware houseman, brewer, bank director and in- terested in many other undertakings, spent yesterday in Birmingham. Mr. Gayle does net come often to Birmingham. That is not good for either Birmingham or himself. He is a descendant of John Gayle, seventh governor of Alabama, who was head of the state sixty-five years ago; and is one of the best of all round young men in Alabama and one of the best of all good fellows living. MT. Gayle is man of great business ability, of boundless energy, and enviaole physique He is one eff those men too rarely found whose good fellowship and generous nature make the world better.
 The Jefferson Volunteers have about completed the work of removing, redecorat- ing and refurnishing their spacious armory in First avenue, and they now have what are doubtless the handsomest and most at tractive military quarters in Alabama. It is doubtful indeed, if there is any club in the state which is so beautifully housed. The main drill hall is a superb chamber, decorated with rare good taste, and adorn- ed with charming pictures in the panels. There is one celebrity represented-Admir Dewey: and for two vacant panels it is hoped to secure portraits of General Wheeler and Lieutenant Hobson. The par Tor is an exceedingly attractive room. Hanging in the comfortable reading room is an excellent portrait of the late Philip Finch, the only member of the company who died whilst 1t was in service during the Spanish-Amercan war. For the rec reation room two new and handsome pool tables have been secured and are now in position. The Jefferson Volunteers are certainly entitled to hearty praise for the new condition of their armory.
 Hon. Joseph J. Willett, of Anniston, is in Birmingham for the first time since his political tour of the east last summer; but he did not come hither to witness the pro- ceedings of the state democratic commit tee, to talk politics or obtain expressions of political views. He came on some law business of his own, and having transacted that satisfactorily and himself and clients. as he is accustomed to doing, he returns home today. MT. Willett has been talked about more this year than any other young man in private life, and his name Is fa- miliar al. over the republic; but he is just as jolly and happy and good-humored as if he had never been "cartooned, inter- viewed or suffered from the work of news paper artists. He is in fine health and fine spirits; and later he may have some- thing to say regarding national politics.