The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-04
IN. HOTEL LOBBIESi
AND ELSEWHERE

the Roycrotts SHOP, East Aurora, New
York. SO justly famous for its perfect
printing and binding. This book is printed
on "Royeroft' paper, bound in brown limp
chamoi7 lined with deep orange satin.
The initial letter to each paragraph is
beautifully Illuminated, the colors and
shades of colors varying throughout the
pages. Caslon type is used. large and
blackfaced. The best of all of Emerson's
great work in literature Is here presented
in a. setting which for artistic merit is
surpassed, if. indeed. it be equaled in the
range of book publishing skill. This book
is ideal-it is perfect; and assuredly the
genius of the Roycrofters could not have
been devoted to a nober task in the dis
pensation of truth, light, sweetness-the
enduring gospel of the higher life Such a
book so presented would be a civilizing, re-
fining ennobling force in any house, hum
BILE or splendid. 1t is a lesson in the
tenets of real righteousness. AS for EN-
erson's mastery work, he Heached a height
in this Essay on Friendship above which
there was no higher height to scale. En-
erson. perhaps. the only American Seer
But the mature-mnded American who
doesn't know Emerson need not be taught
here and at this time.
There is a story about Emerson that has
probably never heretofore appeared in
print and it comes. in not appropriately
at this moment when the Roycrofters are
sending out their Incompatible little book
and when the playhouse and the ball are
beginning to enliven society. The story
was told on care occasions by the late Fran
els W. Underwood, LID. sometime
American consul at Glasgow and subse-
quently at Edinburgh, where he died IN
1894. 1t was in the heyday of Fanny
Ellslers career as a stage dancer she ap-
peared in Boston, and on one night OF her
engagement Emerson and Margaret Fuller
went to the theatre to see her. 1t was
observed that the two famous friends be-
came at once very deeply interested in the
wonderful dancing of the gifted Ellsler-
Suddenly Margaret Fuller grasped Emer-
sons arm and said in a tense whisper Mr..
Emerson, that is poetry!' Without turn
ing his eyes from the stage, and speaking
in the deep and solemn tones so character
istic of him. the great man replied: NAY,
Margaret-nay! 1t is religion! Dr. IN
derwood knew Emerson personally loc
many years as he knew every member OF
the New England school of philosophers.
He wrote the elves of Whittier and Long
fellow. and was himself a man of great
ability.
.sThe unusually early frost mas sWeeteheu
the persimmons, ripened the sweet pota-
toes. and put the 'possum in proper con-
dition for the oven, and SO we promise cur
selves an abundance of the most delicious
~ southern dishes" said planter yester-
day. "Persimmons are the faVorite lood OIL
the 'possum, and potatoes are esseli'ial ~
the proper preparation Of the 'possum lor
the table: and now we have all the cohai
tions for the best of all possible feasls.
Frost in September was 81 delightful sur
mise. and it came so carly that we should
feel disposed to doubt That it had come
a, all did not the hlaekened potato leaves
and other tender vegetation bear unmis-
taxable evidence of it's appearance. WHAT
makes the early frost all the more notable
was that it came during the longest
drought experienced in this season OF tn1
wear in a very long time. Water in rivers
and smaller streams is remarkably loW'
and the dust everywhere is terrible; ac-
tually constituting a serious menace TO
public health. Almost everybody is affect
ed as if by cold in the head, an almost
the entire population is red-eyed, wheezy,
and uncomfortable. Along the county
reads in the farming districts the dust is
four or five inches deep
The proprietor of coal mines near the
city was complaining yesterday of the
vexatious- delay in receiving coal cars suf-
fcient for the demands of his business.
Every car and every locomotive in the
district is in use to- meet the enormous
demand for mineral of all sorts, and the
claims of commercial business generally.
Railroad traffic in the agricultural districts
Is also very heavy, as the movement of the
cotton crop is we'll in progress. while mer-
chants are buying more largely of goods
than at any other time for several years
past. Lumber is being moved as rapidly
as the saw mills can turn it out So the
railroads altogether have about all the
ut siness they can attend to.
The Ninth District Agricultural school
at Brownsville which is under the able
mana cement of Prof. ]. A. B. Lovett, has
students; and there is every promise of
more successful year.
| DR.. Byrd OF Eutaw, one of the most in
| ffuential men of Greene county, was in
| Birmingham yesterday
| w. H. Merritt, who recently acquired an
| interest in the Hawkins Lumber company
of this city, has removed his family to-
| Birmingham, and hereafter this will be the,
| city of residence of Mr.. Merritt and family.
Mr.. Merritt was formerly in business in
| Lowndes county, this state, and achieved
/ enviable success in the heart of the Black.
| Belt. His place in the esteem of the peo-
| pie of Lowndes. and adjoining counties has
| been very high for twenty years, and he
| will make himself felt in the business
| community of busy Birmingham. He is a
| man of large private means, earned by his
| own exertions, and he Is of the stuff that
| is making Birmingham the first of a..
southern cities He is a leader of tha