The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-25
MANY CLEVER STORIES
 TOLD ACROSS THE TABLES
Notwithstanding the Exchange Is Man. aged By Women Few of Them Are In the Habit of Lunch
 ing There.
BY ANNIE KENDRlcK WALKER.

6HE Woman's Exchange, on First kCD avenue. between Twentieth and
 Twenty-frst streets, has devel oped In the past three years, until it is no longer simply medium for the display and sale of the handiwork of many wo- men, who are earning their living but 1t is now the daily meeting place of a large coterie of Birmingham's ablest bus mess and professional men, who during the luncheon hours from 12 to 3 o'clock, gather faround it's cleanly linen-spread tables to enjoy a wholesome, well cooked lunch, while discussing the latest happen ings of the courts, politics or business; or listening to the recital of some recent joke on the leading aldermanic candi- dates, or possibly to an account of late occurrences at Mrs. Blanks cotillon or Mr Blanks "euchre" party.
 Some of these business men bring a load and singly or In pairs take the small tables along the walls, to think or argue about prices or conditions. and acquire indigeston; but the majority prefer the larger tables, where in groups, genial chaffings add sauce to the soup and di- gestion to the dinner.
 The local complexion and absence of transients at the exchange lunches Is so noticeable a feature, that a stranger there Is at once put down by the habit uees, not as a traveler, but as a new res- ident of Birmingham, who Is soon to be- come assimulated by this active business stream and be part and parcel of it.
 Several of our legislative members who are now in Montgomery are missed, l hear, in their accustomed places, but the fraternity at luncheon looks forward with much pleasure to the return of these mighty warriors, when to these old comrades they can sing of their valor in many hard won fight; but likewise will be called upon to state their where abouts in other fights, perhaps, not so gloriously achieved.
 Although the sWoman's Exchange is managed and Conducted by women, with no man to interfere still the ladies are not so in evidence at the luncheon hour as are the men. Some would think that more of the women who lunch down town would be found here; though pos sibly, the real reason of the great pre- ponderance of men Is Dame Nature's $ rule, which always fills the prayer meet ings and bargain counters with women, and the smoking cars and restaurants with men.
 When l say that the exchange is man. aged exclusively by women, l think that one woman's name should be printed in italics. The board of managers includes many of the most fashionable women in Birmingham, and the policy of the board is at all times broad and comprehensive. In carrying out these plans which have provided a perfectly equipped exchange, and one conducted on the most successful lines, the entire responsibility has rested upon Miss Janette Walters, who has man. aged the Exchange since it was first opened.
 Every one who has ever been at the Ex- change during the luncheon hour knows of the demands that are mace upon her, but few probably realize that these few hours are, by no means the busiest, and that early in the day the ''nouse-Keep- ing is begun, which entails a vast amount of management" Then, there