The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-30

kOI vember 2s-(Speeia1. )-There is a
dear one on board whom 1 am
nursing back to health, and so every now
and then. I go on an investigating tour
and later regale her with my experiences.
1.-THE pretty girl who reminded us OF
Elsie de Wolf" l told her today. knows
ever so many Birmingham people, and
she has Just had a letter from charm
ing belle there, and knows everything
that is going on, about the people who are
entertaining, and lot of interesting gos-
sip. She is on her way to Mobile and is
going to spend the winter in New Orleans,
and in the spring she is going abroad
with some people happen to know. And
she says, she has frequently been taken
for Elsie de Wolf and that even their pic
lures bear startling resemblance.
.And what relation do you suppose that
golf-looking man bears to the blase crea-
ture with the blond hair. who wears her
diamonds to breakfast. You know, we
decided she was either his elder sister or
his maiden aunt. Well. she is not either
one They are a newly welded pair, and
this Is their honeymoon. She is years
older than he, and he married her for her
money, and he is taking her down to his
river plantation, where he mas IA large
country house. They say that her father
has recently lost great deal OF money,
and that people are specializing on the
disappointment that is In store for her
husband. But, he is really very Eice TO
her, and she simply adores him; 3. per-
haps, after all, he is not as cold -blooded
as might be supposed of man Who
would deliberately marry girl just be-
cause she had money.
'sAnd we were entirely mistaken about
the people who sat opposite us at din
ner Instead of the man being retired
capitalist, he is great artist Who, in
his younger days. used to do sketches for
Harpers and Lesies. and he is on his
way to Key West with his wife, and they
have a son living In South America.
And. the people we thought were SO
interesting, are really very nice and they
spend most of their time on their river
place. and entertain very nucn like the
ante-bellum planters, because they have
the same servants that we're sia yes before
the war.
but, you have not met the most inter-
esting person on board" interrupted the
dear one. "You did not know Henrietta
Is also making this trip"
'sHenrietta?'
Yes, Henrietta, the stewardess."
"Oh, she has been bringing you delicious
things to eat"
yes" said the dear one, "she does that
TO perfection, but my boullion grows cold
while Henrietta and ! chat of old times"
"Old times?''
Yes. you see, l knew Henrietta before
you were born. And she remembers you
when you were little thing, ail | used
to take you with me to the gulf. She was
the stewardess on the boats that used Il
ply the Chattahoochee river from EufRnla
to the bay, and she made tha. journey
for twenty-eight years. She was 50 faith
full and SO Indispensable that Wien Cap
tain Moore who, for so many years. was
a familiar figure IN the Cn1ttahoochcc
boats. became manager of the Peoples
Line Of steamers thai ply The Alabama
river he secured Henrietta IN her same
capacity on these boats She Is d perfect
treasure and while she has grown old IN
service, she seems to have rrta1ne5 all
CT the strength and energy Of her young
ct days.
And. Henrietta is the most wonderful OF
creatures. But. she will insist that every
thing has refrigerated since she AMI the
dear one used to make the long. delight
full trips to the gulf.
Henrietta is quite positive that the at
mosphere is no longer as balny as in
those days. that the moonlight is not as
inviting, that there are no longer any gay
and brilliant boating parties as those that
danced their way to the bay in other days.
Henrietta has on her tongues end the
name of many belle and beauty Of a
generation ago. and. also, the story of
her love affair. for in those days all the
beaux were old masters in the art ef love-
making. According to Henrietta, this is
a lost art.
I suggested that 1t might be revived.
that some device might be known where
by this delicate and subtle art could once
again take its proper place, but Henri
eta only smiles very sadly and says that
day Is past.
The boats come and CO." said Henri
eta, land there are many pleasure par
ties, but somehow they are not like those
/ used to see. Why, the very moment
they would come aboard. everything
would be so gay, and they would have
their dances at night and their serenades.
Sometimes they would charter a boat for
two weeks, and then that would mean
many love affairs and romances of all
kinds"
''They knew how to have good times
and the young ladies used to call on me
whenever they wanted to play jokes on
the young men,"
-Once, there was a gay party on from
Columbus, Ca, and they were Joined by
IN = q ~