The age-herald., 1900-01-24
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

Not upon any other day in the course of many days were the hotels of Birmingham so crowded as they were yesterday: not upon any other day since the eve of Christ mas were the streets so crowded. The or dinary post-holiday dullness had disappear ed. The sidewalks were at various points at times blocked by the throng of bright-faced humanfty-beautiful women, laughing children. men of all sorts-enjoying the general glow and warmth of a sun that softened the breezes to May-time gentle ness. It all of it was wonderfully bright the sunshine. the sparkling air, the throngs in the streetsl The shop windows seemed to have been brlghtened before the dawn. Tn the places of trade. traffic, business. faces were brighter than before. The greet ings in the streets, the cry-to-cry of hu- man beings one to another were cherrier. hopefuler braver than before. And so passed the afternoon. and so came the eventme and one wished it were always so--when day melts into night so softly that we might pray 1were always the union hour 'twixt the two!
 There will be pleasure throughout the state because of the appointment of John Jackson Mitchell to be probate judge of I.auderdale county. Added to the rare courtesy of Judge Mitchell is a manAness most commennable It has been always easy for him to win the gentler regard and com mand the respect of men. He has never for gotten at any moment the fact of his being gentleman. That is saying much for him as much as could be said in praise of the manliness and the courtesy of any man-but it isn't too strong a tribute ito the personal . character and integrity of one of the best citizens of the state. Judge Mitchell was born in Lauderdale, and he occupies the beautiful home of his ancestors five miles from Florence. There he dispenses gen. tie hospitality, very beautiful In it's polish- ed simplicity. He is still young man, al- though he has been conspicuous in pubic life for more than a dozen years. In stature he is almost boyish; he has a, rosy, laughing face, but strong eyes that seem to look one through and through. His hair is whitening out of due time. A right brave, strong. admirable, lovable man is Judge Mitcheli
 The announcement of the candidacy ol George w. EFsis, of Dallas, for the state auditorship, in succession to Waf'er S' Wraase. of Colbert, causes no surprise; as the Age-Herald antimafed many weeks ago that MT. ENs would become a eandi- date. Mir Ellis is now tn, the last year or his second term as treasurer of the state; and he is one of the most popular Ala bamtans of this generation. He was a clerk in the treasurer's office years be- fore he was called upon to be responsible for the conduct of Unalt office; and at the very beginning he was called upon to make a personal bond for $25O,OOO. Under the law as it stands today the state dtself wdll make the bond with B. sureoy company. Mir Ellis is concerned in some farm prop erty in Dallas, and is partner in a large furniture store in Dexter avenue, Mont gomery He has a brother, Ben Ellis, who will be, it is understood, a candidate for the legislature in Dallas. and who is said ito be. with one exception the largest hol- der of cotton lands in that county. George w. Ellis is one of the leading Baptists of Alabama, and one of the best fellows in the world.
 Hon. J. O. Turner, of St. Clair, formerly for four years superintendent of eduoa- tdon for Alabama, is in the city. It is a year since MT. Turner's last visit to Bir- mingham, and his numerous friends here rejoice to see him, and Ito observe his TO- bust health. Years ago. in the boom times, he made fortune here and saved it. He has spent much of his means and time in the cause of the democratic party. The party gave him all he ever asked. He is now practically out If politics, and is giving his attention to his own private af- fairs.
 A good story on former Congressman M. w. Howard at the expense of Senator Pet tus is related by MT. Turner, of St. Clair. Senator Pettus and MT. Turner, as repre- senting the democrats, were to meet Mir. Howard, the populist leader, in a public debate.
 What sort of fellow is this man How ard?" demanded the senator, with his usual severe dignity,
 Smart can be. and a much better speaker than you or I,' answered MT. Fur ner
 When the day was done MT. Turner ask ed Senator Pettus how he got along with Mir. Howard.
 Not much, not much,' admitted the sen- ator, deliberately. "You know you don't know how to deal with that durned fellow; he makes his facts as he goes along!
 It was a pointed tribute from the dis tinguished senator to the brilliant Howard as a debater.
 J. E. Bonebrake and Mrs. Bonebrake, of Fl Reno, Oklahoma are at the Morris.
 w. c. Lynch, of East Liverpool Ohio, is in Birmingham.
 Maurice Ward, of Sheffield, England, is registered at the Morris
 E. M. P. Inge, of Mobile, is in town.