The age-herald., 1901-01-17
SKETCHES FROM
 EVERYDAY LIFE

"of course.'' said a man who was in a reminiscent mood, ''preachers, even Catho- lie priests whose wants are simple, have to have servants, and it is a rule with few exceptions that the men who wait on min- isters are preachers themselves. I think a census of the servants of Birmingham preachers will prove this. In the south these servants are generally eolored. I think these eolored preachers like to work for their white co-workers; it gives them ideas as to preaching and is dignifed kind of employment. I first noticed this some years ago in making visit to Father Tabb in Virginia, who is better known per- haps as a poet than a priest He lived in the country few miles from the station, and I suppose was the first layman who ever visited his house. He had sent his carriage to meet me at the station and the driver, an old time colored man, with white hair and very dignifed and respect fui manner spotted me the moment I got off the train. He put my bags in the carriage, I put myself In and we started. We had not gone far before asked him out of curiosity how he had known me as Father Tabb's guest among the other two passengers who got off the train. Well, sah, he said, touching his hat, I know you warn't no Catholic an de udder two gem mans was, an Marse Todd tole me de gem man he wah expectin warn't no Catholic How did you know I wasn't Catholic? asked him. Jest by de close, sah. I found out he meant that was not dressed like a priest, and I learned from further questioning that I was the first guest that he had ever driven to Father Tabbs who was not a priest. When We had gone about two miles we passed ne. gro church. The negroes who were stand- ing around bowed so respectfully to the carriage that concluded Father Tabb was very much revered In the community, but I learned from further conversation with the driver, whose name was James, that he was a Baptist preacher and the negroes we had passed on the road wore lowing to him. Dey am jest beginning ter turn he suddenly said, himself turning towards me and touching his hat I thought he referring to the leaves, but as 1t was midsummer when everything was green to be certain asked him what leaves he re- ferred to. Oh no, sah, not de leaves, but de people at de church. Dey is getting re- ligion; we calls it turning How long does 1t take them to turn? I asked. Bout week. sah, he said but he added .dey begins ter unturn in bout month.' He took it very pholosophicaliy. He did not seem to worry at the 'unturning.' He evil dently had the modern business idea of turning over stock in trade, and thought it better to keep his congregation turning over than standing still. I did not have time to further investigate their acrobatic performances as the house had been reached and I alighted and shook hands with my host"
 "I was talking the other day with man who was once a brakeman" said one of the city's officials, "who was not an ad- mirer of the divine Sarah, as Bernhardt's devotees like to call her. He said he was the brakeman of a special train on which Bernhardt was travelling through Alabama in 1896. Her car was the last one on tho train and there was an observation plat form at the end. In passing through Brce's gap on the l.. and N. where some of the best scenery in Alabama can be found, he pointed out the different views to Bernhardt, who was sitting on the plat form in a very masculine attitude. She did not seem to think much of the scenery and hardly noticed it. She doesn't speak Eng fish, by the way. and may not have un- derstood him. The car, he said, reeked with the fumes of garlic, onions and beer, and that to all appearances Bernhardt was man. Her manner, attitudes, tastes were all masculine; that she was thoroughly tifcial. however and may possibly have assumed this, but he thought it was nat ural, as under the circumstances she would hardly have bothered to act for his benefit.
 Our Lumtum correspondent sends in the following news notes:
 Times are quiet.
 H. c. Brown from Snake Creek is crcu- lating among his friends.
 Society here is very good.
 Pink Muggins is working with Bill Will Hams this year. They are engaged in fishing down on Swamp Creek
 Wash Bowling of East Lumtum has moved into our midst. Also J. H. Wilson,.
 Henry James our streets Thurs day. Mrs. Huggins was struck with pa ralysis.
 Thomas Henry made flying trip to your town recently.
 Wedding bells have been ringing in midst, and the happy pair have my best wishes.