The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-27
VISIT TO MONTGOMERY
BIRMINGHAM NEWSPAPER MAN
 WRITES IMPRESSIONS.
Beauty, Progressiveness and Happi- ness of the Capital City, He Says. Should Inspire Every
 Patriotic Alabamian.

says, should Inspire Every
 Patriotic Alabamian.
 well-known newspaper man of Bir- mingham who had not visited Montgom- cry in some time was here last week and his impressions of the Capital City are interesting.
 Writing to the Birmingham Ledger he said:
 A visit to Montgomery at this time of the year inspires the patriotic Alabamian with renewed pride in the Capital City Of his State. The busy season has al- ready opened and the streets are crowded with the wagons of farmers and others who are gathering here daily on account of trade and commercial attractions. Add ed to this are the large number of sena- tors and representatives who are in at- tendance upon the legislature and the generous supply of out-of-the-city gentle men, and ladies. too. who have business" of one kind or another near the halls where laws are wont to be made. The citizens are dressed in their best. and the visitors, of course, have on their Sunday clothes. so the streets present, especially in the mornings and afternoons, a gay and animated appearance. all of which show up to the best advantage because of the very clean and tidy appearance of the streets.
 Beautiful Scene.
 Standing at the fountain in the center of Court Square one looks up Dexter ave- nue to the capital on one of the prettiest scenes to be found in any city. The street is very broad and paved with brick, with shade trees on both sides. It rises grad ually to the wide steps that lead up to the State building, and has many handsome buildings. If the admirer of this very attractive showing leisurely walks up to- wards the capitol he will be more inn pressed as he hears the steps mentioned, and his interest will grow as the stair way Is mounted to the large portico where Jefferson Davis took the oath of office of President of the Southern Con- federacy almost half century ago. The floor of the porch is badly worn but the | old blocks which make 1t are still retain ed. At the exact spot where MT. Davis stood when he was obligated to uphold as 1 chief executive the cause which all South erners loved, love now, and always will l love- has been marked and preserved with plate by the Sophia Bibb Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy of Mont | gomery. Long and much worn seats are distributed around the walls and there is never a time on pretty days when some one is not seated on them.
 Confederate Relics. Inside the lobby of the capitol is a museum of Confederate relics owned and kept on exhibition by the members of Sophia Blob chapter, which must be in | valuable from an historic standpoint. There are guns and pistols and uniforms | which could, If inspired with faculty of l speech, tell wonderful stories of bravery and suffering and devotion to a cause | that absorbed the best blood of the state, given as willingly as the cup of water | which Is held out to the weary traveller. | Around the walls are many pictures of famous Alabamians which tell in elo- duent way what the state has done in the military, political and civil life to keep its place at the front in the sister, hood of the southern commonwealths. One may get a couple of hours of the most interesting study from these relics and portraits, especially if he Is inter ested in what has been accomplished by his fellow citizens who have made the state known wherever courage and pa | triotism Is revered.
 Interesting Study. The capitol itself Is worthy of close study. Great measures and momentous movements have from its portals gone forth. Up its half circle stairways have gone men who stood shoulder to shoul- der with the wisest the nation has pro duced. Coming down to the present there is nothing to be ashamed of by any means The members of the legislature are as a whole, able and proficient. and it Is conceded that the present session will compare to a great advantage with any that has ever been held. Especially has l Jefferson county cause to be proud. One of it's illustrous sons is presiding over the upper house with strength and dignity | Another. while not speaker, is called to | the chair of the house by the presiding officer on frequent occasions. Reference Is made to Dr. R. M. Cunningham, lieu | tenant governor. and MT Augustus Ben ners. The writer walked from the senate chamber Saturday where Dr. Cunning | ham was presiding to the house. where | he found Mir. Benners occupying the same post of honor among his colleagues. The other members from Jefferson are also taking high stand and keeping well to the front in all good work.
 Governor Tells Story.
 Like all out of town visitors. I called on the chief executive. who was very busy. He stopped long enough. however. to ask of Birmingham friends and to tell a good joke on three of them who had been at the capitol the day before. Gov
 
 when he wrote bright paragraphs on The Eufaula Times. and has a knack of mak ing everybody feel comfortable around him. He has many friends in the fourth estate, who have neve~ gotten over re- gretting his retirement, and hope he will make good his assertion to get back to the graphite when he Is done saving the country. The familiar face of Private Secretay Jackson is seen near the gov ernor. The presence of this always cour- ] teous gentleman makes one feel like that he ought to turn around and see the form of the lamented Seay, whom MT | Jackson served as he is serving Governor | Jelks now.
 Tells It to Sowell. 1 Across the hall is Secretary of State | Hefiin. who has been kept a little bit
 busy lately telling why he said it. but l ever popular. notwithstanding. and in the same office is found Ned McDavid. in surance commissioner who will one day return to his own Birmingham. Auditor