The age-herald., 1899-07-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

The battleship Alabama, one of the na- tion's mightiest engines of defense. ana bearing a name not second in history to the victory which bore Nelson at Trafal- gar. is about to be commissioned by the government to put to sea in pursuit of it's task for the maintenance of the peace and the preservation of the national honor Ths new Alabama will sail the seas under the disreputable and disgraeeful condition that it will bear no worthy gift from Alabam- ians; and the men who man the ship can do no more than say, The Alabama bears the name of one of the forty-ive states of the Republic. We have nothing but her pame to show" The shameful neglect of Alabamians in this particular matter takes on a mournful interest in view of some words of historic interest that come from New York. In the metropolis. Caspar Buberl, a sculptor, has just completed in the clay a heroic statue of Admiral Raph- ael Semmes, of the Confederate navy. It is on view in his studio, No. 300 East One Hundred and Fortieth street, and the Her aid says: MT. Burbel's work is vigorous and impressive" It will be cast in bronze within the next two weeks, and in October will be erected in Mobile. The completed monum 9nt will be twenty feet high, the statue being eight feet six inches. On the base there will be bas-relief in bronze of the Alabama, and above it another bronze bas-relief, inscribed:
 Commander c. s. Steamer Alabama. Rear A6foiral Statesman, Scholar and Christian Gentle man."
 The new Alabama, which shall fly the flag against which the old Alabama fought with courage, audacity and skill never be- fore or since equalled in naval warfare will go out upon the wave to maintain the honor of all Americans without having in its possession so much as a gift of Ala bamians Shame, shame, shame. Evident ly we Alabamians a decadent race, unworthy the proud name we bear. Secre- tary of the Navy Herbert, an Alabamian. gave the name of his state to this great ship of war. He might as well have called 1t Toadvne or Scratch Ankle, Three Notch or Beaver Creek. Alabamians could rot have appreciated either of these names less than they appreciate the name that brave men and great have made immortal Alabama" "Semmes'-these names spell out a wondrous story in history; but to Alabamians of today are apparently mean- ingless, since the people of the state are too stlngy to make a souvenir gift to the new battleship Alabama Happily the past preserves the honors of the past!
 
 In most instances there is probably quite enough kissing in Birmingham, and there fore the kissing fly, vulgarly called the kissing bug comes as visitor unbid- den and wholly without welcome. This strange creature of the kiss is here as many persons can bear ready witness. Like a great many other things, it is imported. "It is quite common in Turkey and Eastern Europe said a traveller last night, and is there called 'mamus.' Generally it at tacks persons who have eaten onions or garlic, and its sting produces a whitish blister that is so painful in many cases that the victims are kept to their beds for day or two. The sting is felt as quickly as that of our common wasp, though the imme- diate effect is not so great. The best reme- dy is probably the native Turkish one. As soon as you feel the sting apply wet tobac- co to the spot; or, if there is no tobacco handy, use wet clay. if you can get 1t. Now that the fly has found its way to this coun- try 1t is likely to become almost as com- mon as our feathered immigrant, the Eng fish sparrow
 Several weeks ago The Age-Herald print ed a statement to the effect that Senator Morgan would arrive in Birmingham with in a few days" or words to that effect. That publication is based upon a private letter from the senator to a friend. Tha senator has been detained in Virginia and the east, and has found it inpracticabe to come to Alabama, as he contemplated and desired. Circumstances. impelled him to re- main away much longer than he contem- plated. It is now given out that Senator Morgan may be expected in Birmingham during the present. week. and a cordial well come awaits here the most illustrious of Alabamians.
 More than a year ago some pressure was brought upon Governor Johnston to call forth from him proclamation declaring the place of representative from the Eighth Alabama district to be vacant and directing that an election be held. This was on account of the appointment of Rep resentative Joseph Wheeler to a major generalship of United States volunteers. It was said at the time, and the allegation was probably true, that the governoc sought the legal advice of his constitu- ticnal advisor, the Hon. William Cochrane Fitts, then the attorney general, and that MT. Fitts advised that the governor issue no such proclamation. However that may have been, the matter was dropped. It is revived now by the orders of Genera. Wheeler to proceed to the Philippines and report to the commanding general for serv- ice. What Governor Johnston's views arc in the matter, if he has thought of it lately, have not been made public, but anything he had to say would make mighty inter- esting reading the phrase goes. Every student of the law and all persons pos- sessed of a knoWledee of Our Darliamentary