The age-herald., 1900-03-01
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

United States army attache with General
 Lord Roberts. brings prominently before the | public one of the best and most popular officers of the American army" said a re- l tired officer last night. |" Harry Slocum,
 as he is familiarity called by his comrades. l is a keen, alert, wide-awake soldier, and is
 one of the best fellows in the army. At the | outbreak of hostlities between the British
 and the Boers Slocum was detailed from
 1lis command and ordered to proceed to l South Africa, and attach himself to the
 British headquarters for the purpose of re- 1 porting to our war department on the gen.
 eral tactics and conduct of the British army 1 in the field. He sailed at once for England,
 and from England for Capetown. Upon his arrival at the South African port he was
 informed of the first serious defeat of the
 British, due to their lack of knowledge as
 to the presence and strength of the enemy.
 He asked abruptly why didn't the British
 ascertain the facts about the enemy before
 advancing? That was his only question.
 those were his only words by way of com l ment upon a disaster that aroused the world, and one that might have been
 avoided. Several British officers and att taches of other countries, together with the American consul-general, heard the ques- | tion, and new light dawned upon them. 1 It was all plain enough. There had been
 no reconnoitering. Cad, sir; that Yankee knows his busnessv ejaculated a British
 colonel. Next day every newspaper in l Christendom told how a question of a dozen words from the American captain had explained tine British de- feat. It was thoroughly characteristic of l Harry Slocum-soldier to the last, never l losing sight of the practical side of war. l Since he asked the question he has been | greatly looked up to by the British. from | Lord Roberts down. but his position is, of l course, solely that of an observer. He l could not give advice if asked for. It
 would be an offense, a rudeness, for a British officer to seek his counsel"
 'qaarry Slocum Is not responsible for the recent publications giving his views in con demnation of the personnel and tactics or the British and their failure to make prop CT reconnaissance before advancing. He I sent his official reports under seal to the war department, which Intentionally gave | out what were state secrets. Now, when 1t is trife too late the department has determined to file the gallant captains re- ports with the archives of the military in formation bureau Slocum, who by the way is son of the famous General Henry w. SIocum, won his spurs and practical mill
 tary knowledge fighting Indians in the far west. The methods of Boer warfare bear
 a distinct resemblance to the tactics of our noble red man. I was on the plains with Slocum, and know him intimately, having ux1a time. A more gallant fellow or a more
 lovaIble one never lived. Men are devoted to him, women adore him, and many a soldier and former soldier are watching his career with affectionate interest He will be a colonel before long, I warrant you. He belongs to the Seventh cavalry, Gen
 eral Miles old regiment"
 General J. T. Peebles of Mooresville, Ala, spent yesterday in Birmingham, the guest of T. T. Ashford. General Peebles is chair man of the democratic executive committee
 of Limestone county, is an enthusiastic supporter of John T. Morgan, and one of the most prominent and influential demo- crats, and is one of the largest land-own- CTS and cotton planters of north Alabama.
 The former rell0W-W0rkerS or SianO '. Grssom on the Birmingham newspapers, together with all his numerous friends in this city, will be much interested in the in- formation that he will be married after Eas- ter to a gifted and lovely young woman of Memphis. The wedding was fixed for a date some months past, but owing to MT. Grissom's illness 1t became necessary to postpone the ceremony. His health is now entirely restored and he is quite robust. As his friends here are aware. he was suf- fering terribly from rheumatism at various times during the past eight years. MT. Grissom is on the staff of the Commercial Appeal and is doing as well as he could wish. He Is reported to be very popular in Memphis, and those who know him can well understand such reports to be true
 There is rumor that has not yet become widely circulated, but has the semblance of being based upon fact, to the effect that a new great wholesale drygoods establish ment will be opened in Birmingham almost immediately; a. building having been al- ready secured. The merchants do not be- long to Birmingham or to Alabama so the capital will come altogether from outside
 
 even the names of the merchants or whence they come.
 Captain Paul Sanguinetti of Montgomery, is in Birmingham. For twenty-five years Captain Sanguinatti was one of the most familiar figures in the organization of the Alabama State troops, now the Alabama National Guard, holding staff appointments during the greater part of that time. For many years he was on the staffs of succeed ing governors. He Is a soldier by instinct and dearly loved his work. For thirty
 years he has been one of the most vide ly known men about the state capital. He has always enjoyed great popularity.
 Many Birmingham men thave made money in stock speculation, but a great deal more would be made if our spectators were oftener bears than bulls" said we'll known citizen, who watches the ticker closely and who sees what people are do- h11l1