The age-herald., 1900-06-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

l Astrologer Raphael prophecies for this day, Sunday June 24, 1900:
 "Be very careful"
 "Thou wilt experience heavy losses, law, | and quarreling; keep myself quiet and avoid speculation and risk'
 "A child born on this day will be free | and generous, sharp and clever, but should keep in employ" A local marriage of wide interest is that
 of the younger sumpter Lea, son of the | veteran lawyer and publicst, Sumpter Lea, evidences of whose wisdom and skill are found in the existing constitution of Ala bama and in the statutory laws. The elder Sumpter Lea is totally blind, and has been for many a long day; but his blindness of vision comes to him as it came to Milton, almost as a blessing. q am perfectly happy" he is wont to say; and, 'I was never so happy in all my life!' His unspeakable physical affiiction has sweetened his generous nature, rather than soured or embittered. His bright and
 keenly alert mind perceives new beauties,
 greater love, more abundant benevolence,
 broader charity. He feels that sunlight he does not see, feels beauty in every good
 and every beautiful thing. Always a
 bouyant and merry optimist, he is merrier and more companionable than when he
 had eyes to see the rough places along the
 way. Colonel Lea was a member of the state constitutional convention from Dal- las County twenty-five years ago, and en- joyed an enviable career at the bar; serv- ing for a time as a legislator. In the sos he removed from Selma to Birmingham, and at once took a leading place as lawyer here, and afterwards became large ly interested in politics.
 There used to be fountain in the center
 of the intersection of Ninetoesth street
 and Second avenue, which was the princ-
 pal place in Birmingham for public meet ings One night there was a great poltl-
 cal rally" there, and amongst the speak
 CTS was Colonel Lea. The street cars
 drawn by lazy mules occasionally passed through the crowd, breaking and demoral- izing it, and disturbing the speakers. Vixen Colonel Lea spoke he roared with lions notes, but his finest flights were broken by the street cars. Finally even his amiable nature became exasperated, and he made some remark which caused the crowd to laugh He waited for order and
 then, strengthening his tall figure, which
 on the high stand and in the dim light looked gigantic, he pointed towards the departing car, and in a voice that might have been heard four blocks away, he thundered:
 Roll on,'
 Roll on! Roll on'
 Roll on, blank blank -blankety- blank! hripp n n
 hosts!'
 The applause shook the adjacent build
 ings, and Colonel Lea was the hero of that turbulent congregation of roaring human |. ity. All Birmingham sympathizes with MT. Erswell in his sorrow over the tragic death of his son, a tragedy which followed so quickly upon the passing away of a younger son deeply cherished Mr.. Frs we'll was one of the first men wlio settled in the new village of Birmingham after it was plated in the old fields at the crossing of two railroads, neither of which was com pleted, and he has aided materially in transforming the village into the Birming- ham of today. Through all the years he has enjoyed the esteem and entire respect ol Iie coIhniuiiity, oi WHICH He HdS peeH always held to be one of the best citizens. MT. Erswell is a generous and charitable
 man, one from whom no person in want was ever turned wanting away. And for a
 man so kind of heart so generous and so upright there is sincere sympathy in these days of bereavement.
 MT. Harvey l.. Mckee was in Birmingham yesterday Mir Mckee and associates have acquired possession of the Meridian Her aid, and he is now conducting it. He is otherwise largely interested in business in Meridian, and is confident of the rapid growth and increasing prosperity of that