The age-herald., 1901-04-10
A Sunday School Delegate.

A Sunday School Delegate.
 "I am a Sunday school delegate going to Talladega," she said as she displayed her reduced-fare roundtrip ticket at the union passenger station yesterday after noon.
 The gateman looked at her hard as he punched her ticket, and he smiled uncon- sciously at the fair and dainty little fig ure of the ten thousand who had passed him during the day. It was his last hour on duty and he was tired, but he was born amiable, was of gentlebirth. and he will always be amiable and gentle. that good-looking day gateman at the main en- trance to the big station. But tired as he was, he gave more than passing atten- tion to the fair little Sunday school dele gate bound for Talladega.
 The good-looking gateman was not the only man who smiled at seeing the little delegate. There were others. and no won der. She might have been figure out of a story of George Meredith, diminutive Diana of The Crossways, say, and her quaintly southern speech might have been uttered by one of Fielding's creations of the olden time Her figure was that of a goddess-a little goddess-she was little young gentlewoman. real daugh- ter of Birmingham; and, you know, most men love little women, and little women love most men.
 The delegate was one of those incom- parable southern types who know best how to say good mawnin'', and her speech to the gateman was enough to bring the songs of mockingbirds and the perfume of honeysuckles to the wide spaces of the big passenger station. There were peach blossoms in it's notes, and the low hum of tuneful bees droning their flight honey-laden and unresting. Her eyes flashed the living fire of wonder ing soul, and her little feet peeped in and out as if they feared the light, as did the feet of old Sir John Stockings Bride of the long ago.
 What of Talladega?' she demanded of one who approached her reverently. "Is 1t far? When shall I get there? Are the men nice? And are the women so very charming? Where do you suppose they will take me-to what charming house? Shall I be called upon to make speech in the Sunday school convention? Do you think I am good enough to be delegate? Pretty enough, eh? Do you think they'll think so? How am I to address the chair man? Let him address me? But he is sure to be an old married man, isn't he?'
 Thus ran the fire of questions with in- conceivable rapidity and infinite charm, and questioning and laughing the fairest Sunday school delegate who has lived since Robert Raikes began his work an her way to Talladega.
 MT. Lacy and Trussville Furnace.
 J. D. Lacy, an Eastern capitalist long resident in New Orleans and well known in the Birmingham district, Is understood to have purchased a large interest in the Trussville furnace, paying cash price that runs far up into five figures.
 "Mr. Lacy is man of large wealth and is one of the best and strongest of all the capitalists who have interested them selves in Birmingham and the district v said a large owner of mineral property. "He is the best kind of man for indus trial enterprises of great moment, and l should rejoice very much ifs he would come to reside in Birmingham. but I fear that he is not likely to do so. His resi- dence here would mean big things for the district.
 'I happen to know of an instance when an extraordinary mark of confidence was shown in MT. Lacy. and one which is a happy commentary upon his enviable reputation as a good man of powerful business accomplishments A certain Eastern firm was considering the pur- chase of a large body of Alabama timber lands, and MT. Lacy being then in Bir- mingham the firm pursuaded him to in spect the land and report his observations and impressions. His report was favora- ble and at once the firm bought the land for a large sum without any one of the firm ever having seen it. and solely upon MT Lacy's opinion. although MT. Lacy informed the buyers that he would re- ceive percentage on the sale from the sellers. Certainly that was a remarka- ble tribute to MT. Lacy's character as a straightforward man and to his business sagacity and ability.
 Thus I am glad this investor has in- vested in the Trussville furnace"