The age-herald., 1900-07-04
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

Astrologer Raphaers prophecies for this day. Wednesday, July 1, 19OO
 Ask favors, seek work, sign writings, travel and remove'
 ''Thou wilt have a successful year, and thy money and business will increase and thou wilt have an active year, yet beware of sickness or disappointments.'
 "A child born on this day will be very clever possessing excellent abilities, and will rise rapidly in life" In a popular English almanac the notable event mentioned. of which the 4th of July is the anniversary, is the translation of St. Martin" A certain declaration made in Philadelphia, July 4, 1776, in which England was somewhat interested was ap- parently forgotten by the brilliant editor of the "wide-awake," ''newsy," ''up- to-date"-especially up-to-date''-almanac in question.
 One hundred and twenty-four years ago. counting back from this day, certain re- bellous subjects of King George III of England did declare in meeting at Phil adelphia that the American colonies of England were and of right ought to be free and independents; and that action has resulted in vastly more history-making than any of the delegates ever dreampt of, even under the most liberal polations of coffee, rum, what not.
 
 and, happily for those founders of the Re- public, they were not befuddled by that absurd beverage now dealt out as "Phila- delphia ale" They were great heroes, the famous Signers quite reckless and almost mad in their spirit of daring. They spoke for perhaps less than three million widely scattered white people; defed the greatest nation in the world then, it is now; and began forthwith to drive out the rightful owners of the soil, and slay and wrong them in the name of liberty. That was all right; in witness whereof there are now less than 100000 Indians living, and they are being fed and clothed, in a hard-hearted sort of way by "the best government the world ever saw" But all that has got nothing practical to do with the Day we
  millions who were theoretically subject to a throned monarch when the Signers sign ed, we now count probably seventy-six millions inclusive of foreigners, and ex- elusive of the multftudes who were left out of the census count in AnnieS Town, MGomry, Greenvull, Toadvine, and Tlan- ter! The Signers slung their ink very seri- ously, and delivered the mother Time of a sickly infant which is now grown to be the giant of the earth, garbed in the galling livery of King Money. Even old Signer Hancock biggest ink-slinger of them all, couldn't in a million years have cancelled with his big pen all the writs our present ruling King holds against us But all that concerns but remotely the dozen million small boys who will today pop firecrackers bigger than old John Hancock's pen, and made by people whose faraway land is be- ing invaded in the name of liberty by de- scendants of the colonists who rebelled against English tyranny an hundred and four and twenty years agone. Whoopla! Down with anti-missionary Boxers! Up with the boxers of firecrackers. Hurrah for the Fourth of July! Down with liberty beer-plenty of it Our New England an- cestors drove Roger Williams out to perish because he was a Baptist. We are driving the "Boxers" chiefly because they are not everything in our line! Noble banner-cry- Down with Boxers and beer!
 
 Amongst the great number of visitors in Birmingham is pr. B. F. Riley, the we'll known educator, who for four years was president of Howard College in the most tod of itc hictory years has filled with eminent ability the Chair of English in the University of Geor- gia. Dr. Riley has just been elected pas tor of the First Baptist Church of Houston, Tex, and is now considering the call. The Alabamians who have known Dr. Riley from his boyhood are led to wish that he might be retained in his native State, Alabama, in some position in which his broad culture and executive ability could have ample exercise. Tours of for eign travel have greatly enriched his store of knowledge and culture, and he would make desirable acquisition to any com munity But, no matter where his lot may be cast, he will prove distinguished success as he has in the past.
 
 Bv nominating William Richardson for Congress the Democrats of the Eighth Dis trict place the entire Democratic party of this state and the country under obligations to them. They have voted to nominate the first man amongst them in point of ability and general fitness, and one of the best citizens the State has had. Apart from his widely acknowledged ability, Judge Richardson is a man of the highest per sonal character one worthy of the highest office. His life has been without reproach, and all men who have known him have paid him the tribute of their unqualified esteem. For many years he has desired to represent in Congress the district in which he was born and wherein he has always dwelt; but the glamor of Joseph Wheeler's name has been too potent. The honor now comes to him as by common consent; for it appears that the voters who supported his opponents were of little con-