The age-herald., 1902-02-24

Specially when no one has to put In twelve hours of labor after.
 Seems as though every one in this big bare eating room of mill boarding house has reason to be blad the day is Sunday. Not specially because it is Sabbath-may- be 1t is that, though. For though some of these at the table where the rowing newswriter sits think little of why the day is quiet and less of worshiping being for whom the day is given up, yet it seems to me they feel dimly that 1t is all because the world celebrates thusly for some one who has done a great deal ! for it-some one to whom the world owes debt of some kind that only constant rememberance can, in a sense, liquidate
 The meal Is started jollily.
 That big, brawn laborer from the blast furnace who in the evening will start in on promotion-to assume a bossshp over several negro laborers at the blast-he confdes in all, his plans for the future The boss-job at the blast he will hold un- til next March-then ho! he Is ava with a circus.
 He asks that the butter be passed. A solemn weaver handing, says: Here's the axle grease-move the sand this here way
 And more such pleasantries. Plain fare, with dressing of humor ana laugh don't go hard on the stomach. Midway during the meal there come in the occupants of the three chairs that were reserved
 Young women of 20 or more, with their best frocks on. They do not seem specially wearied after the week of seventy-two hours toll. They had looked tired at sup no fba hut girl like the American man the country over is quick of recuperation
 Laborers whose full weekly wages allow them but a pittance, spend the day much as do laborers like situated anywhere They get all the rest possible, and in the main feel only as religious as men with out trades generally do in a manufac- turing city.
 During the day a chance glance whhe passing the room of the women mill op- eratives notes the neatness, ornamentn- tien, that is so missing Tn the careless rooms of men occupants.
 Seems to ne, here is a sturdy American spirit-as though no more historical he- roines will catch quick fancy when one realizes that here are three American | girls brave and game enough to work l twelve hours every day of the week for six consecutive days, at tedious toil some work pay a dollar day or so and
 After it all look cheerful, happy, neatly dressed on what remains when board Is paid, and be grateful that it is Sunday. even though Sunday means this as much as anything else-that it is but the fore runner of Monday.
 Scene three Is hotel where travelling men largely stop in town. Drummers in from the road as well as those from big ger wholesale cities who are working here. throng. They lounge, read-great readers of newspapers and commentators on days doings are they. Listen to them discussing Senators Tillman and Me Laurin and the United States Senate scrap. Every drummer has an opinion on national matters. Matters not that his opinion is that of a superficial observer at times-he has an opinion.
 The sociability of these commercial travelling men here in the south is notice- able to northerner. Then there is the way young men affiliate with middle-aged men-and all at their ease.
 The newswriter who roams didn't minele yesterday in the homes of the well-to-do. Birmingham has plenty such, but who ever heard of an interesting everyday romance amongst the rich?