The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
A Birmingham
Nuisancet,

Tho crowds on the streets OF Blrn-
ineham proclaim in undenlable terms
tho growth of the city beyond its form
or provincialisnl and its attainment OF
truly metropolitan proportions. And like
the larger cities of the East the traffic
of the city as well as the pedestrians
should observe some appointed rule. on
the streets to facilitate the comfort and
progress of each. Any one who tries
to make his or her way along the streets
on Saturday especially, knows how diff
fieult 1t is to walk, and how often one
person in endeayoring 10 pass another
takes a number OF dancing steps side
ways before each person decided definitely
whether they will go to the right or
left.
This very great Inconvenience is not
met when there Is a positive rule, OBJ
served by everyone. to go always to the
right or left whichever 1t may be. Il
believe we are more accustomed to go
to the right, IL we over observe any rule
whatever. Many certainly do not and 1t
Is no unusual thing to aim ost pass some
one on the streets and have them sud
denly decide to pass to the other side
of you instead, consequently almost rum
ming into you.
In london every vehicle and every
body passes to the left and 1t facilitates
progress wonderfully. You never have
tc stand before a person and wait on
him two or three minutes while he comes
to some decision as to which way he
prefers to go, and that, too. possibly at
a time when you are in the greatest
hurry. However, most other European
cities observe the other way and pass
to the right. No New Year resolution
could add more to the comfort and hap
piness of pedestrians in Birmingham
than the resolve to obey this rule in
variably and pass quickly and positive
ly to the right of every person met on
the streets.
Birmingham is certainly growing and
Is Metropolitan in many of its leading
characteristics. That it will be Greater
Birmingham" before very. much longer.
is beyond doubt. In one respect Birm-
ingham already resembles Paris, one of
the handsomest capitals of Europe, but
not the handsomest as long as Vienna
and Berlin are to be considered. Birm-
ingham's resemblance to Paris is in the
great number, persistence, and untlring
energy of her street beggars. New ones
may come and go, but the same old ones
we have with us forever. Their evil
dent satisfaction with their occupation
often reminds me of a story told of
well known street beggar in Paris at
one of the best paying corners on the
Champs Elysees and it is this:
An Englishmans was doing business In
the city of Paris and as he went from
his humble quarters to his office each
morning he passed an old gray headed
blind man sitting at the street corner,
receiving aims. Often as he. passed he
threw the old man a copper.
One morning after such piece of gen.
erosity he missed q gold coin that he
was sure he had in his pocket when he
started from home, and so In the early
afternoon he returned to the suppliant
to ask If he had thrown the gold coin
in his basket instead of the copper piece
as intended. The old gray-headed man
was goae and in MS place another pc
ttioner was stationed Upon inquiry the
Englishman learned that each one serv-
ed at the post for half a day and If he
wished to speak to Monsieur B. calling
him by name-he could be found at a
certain number nearby. The English
man followed the directions, and arrived
at handsome house. He felt there must
be some mistake, but ventured to ring
the bell and ask for Monsieur B. The
10DOr was OpenSQ ny d fStIYfilt III livery
who responded promptly that Monsieur
B. resided there. The Englishman was
then ushered into the presence of an
elegantly attred old gentleman. The
Englishman stated his business, but with
apologies saying that he realized he had
made mistake.
mot at ALL" answered Monsieur and
calling his secretary. asked II the morn
ings savings had yet been banked The
secretary replied that they had not and
the Monsieur asked that they be brought
to him. Very quickly the gold pound was
found and returned to the rightful own
er. OF course the Englishman was pro-
fuse in his acknowledgements and thanks,
and was graciously bowling himself out
when Monsieur B. exclaimed-"But-but-
Monsieur, my sous?"
Generally one story calls for another
and so while 1 cannot vouch for the