The age-herald., 1899-09-14
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

mingham and Jefferson county generally, the political centre of the state, 1t is well nigh impossible to discover anybody who will talk politics" at all. The gossipers have abandoned the hotel lobbies. It is very seldom that anyone of the leaders puts in an appearance. The ordinary night loungers talk about the Drey- fus case, the state fair the po- lice commission, and the like: but. as If by common consent, politics is barred as d subject of conversation. The unex- ampled business activity In the city and county readily accounts in part for local indifference to politics. Men are too busy making money to turn aside for the tur- moil and rancor of the political mud pud- dle. Yet identical stories of apathy and indifference come from nearly all the coun- ties Montgomery, Madison. Jackson and Colbert are notable exceptions. In these counties otfice-seekers interfere with the business of gathering the crops. In the capital county the situation is said to be amusing, so consistently are the candidates canvasslng and seeking to bury rusty little hatchets that have caused trouble in days they would like to be assured are forgotten. In Jackson fifty-two candidates for local offices make that county ridiculous. The general fact is this: If it were not for Mr. Stallings and MT. Waller in their worthy work of seeking the democratic gubernatorial nomination there would at this time be no active politics in Alabama outside of the four counties excepted. MT. Waller went to the northern counties and beat the bushes. and he was promptly fol- lowed by MT. Stalllngs, who also beat the bushes. MT Stallinss had been down south, and Mir Waller went to see how the land lay. Each of these only candidates out in the open Is covering the state as rapidly as it may be done, and each ex- presses confidence in his own nomination. There need not be any doubt that each be- lieves he himself will win. But the entries for the gubernatorial race of 1900 are not yet closed. Much remains to be done and seen and heard before the primaries are generally fixed Meantime there is an un- eXampled dearth of political news. Pos sibly it Is the calm-oh we'll you know the rest! .44
 Not more than thousand miles from the Jefferson county court house there is a beat that has d justice of the peace and a constable who the out for 'the stuff They are strictly business on the "q t." and don't you forgetdt,' and all that sort of thing. Recently an elderly couple, hus- band and wife both very ignorant persons, called upon the justice and made a formal demand for decree of divorce
 "Constable, what'er bout this case? Kin We devorce these parties?
 Tell you the truth, jedge I reckon it's
  can't devorce them parties to this partick- Ter suit"
 The jedge scratched his head and ate to- bacco while he turned the pages of a law book for minute or two Turning to the too much married husband he asked sternly:
 " How much money is you-uns got for ter pay for deevorce?''
 Six dollars and fifty cents. iedge"
 We'll" declared the jedge wrathfuly, q fine you five dollars for tryin to bribe this court, and dollar-ffty costs; an eff you ever try to bribe me az in I'll send you to jail!'
 Captain James E. Shelley, now in the United States service at Santiago, has just recovered from an attack of yellow fever. He was attacked by the malady on August 26, but his father, General Charles M. Shelley, was not aware of the sons danger until the 7th of September, when he re- ceived the information in New York. Gen eral Shelley received assurance in Wash ington that the regiment intended for special service in the province of Santiago will be formally organized and the presi- dent will nominate the officers within a month or six weeks Captain Shelley will be appointed to a majority in this reSi ment. He is now receiving the pay of a major General Shelley returns from the east in excellent general health, though he is afflicted at the moment with slight muscular aiment.
 There is great rejoicing in Bessemer over the democratic municipal victory of Mon day. The caucus of the democratic coun- cimen-elect have chosen Edgar l.. Mitch ell for city clerk and treasurer, and he will be formally elected at the meeting of the new council tonight. MT. Mitchell is one of the best known young democrats in the county. and is the member of the county democratic executive committee for Besse- mer beat He is associated with the Bir- mingham agency of Bradstreet's. MT. Mitchell is greatly liked throughout Jeifer- son, and the honor that has been conferred upon him will give very general satisfac- ton. Other caucus nominees for city off- cers of Bessemer are John Golightly. sani- tary officer; l.. Y. Lipscomb, city attorney; pr. Frank Prince city physician, and Will liam Edwards, city tax collector; all Of whom are described as being popular citi- zens and well qualified for their respective duties. The political struggle being ended, prosperous Bessemer will now devote all her energies to the business of developing into great city.
 Somebody quotes Senator Morgan as re- lating a story about the late Dr. Peter Bryce, the famous head of the Alabama Bryce Hospital for the Insane, at Tusca- loosa The great mind expert and the dis tinguished senator. the story goes, were al a certain health resort in this state one night when ball was in progress. They were sitting the yerandah outside the