The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11

i him. They of that day seem to us like giants
 On the sloping hill where now the Jud
 son stands. cnly small trees were grow
 ing In the southwest corner of the grounds was a little cottage (about where the King Redwood now stands); on the right of the central walk was a cluster of walnut trees. the last survivor of which was cut down three. years ago. There were elfns and oak trees of all ages and sizes but there were two in which we were especially interested. They grew side by side on the south sid of the lawn near where the walls of the Auditorium are now rising. They were tall, 1.-the and full of promise, scarcely more than fifteen feet high. Last year one of them was offered up as a sacri- | flee to the Judson's growth. The "Old , Oak" as we called it, whose rings mark ed 1t seventy five years of age. We la
 mented It's fall. in prosa and in rhyme, and some of us have in our Judson mem ory books fragrant of It's bark. The other, the Confederate Oak still stands shorn of it's strength. but venerable and sacred for what it once was. Under it's branches hearts beat high on that April day in 1861, and tears fell for the boys In gray who gathered to receive from the ladies of the town the confederate flag. Judson girls and Howard boys looked on singing with spirit Maryland, My Mary land" while all tho voices joined in Dixie as Miss Zitella Cooke presented be needed. estingforcota
 the flag to the colonel of the regiment. the Fourth Alabama In 1899 these oaks were gathering from tho winds and rains strength for the days when shade should be needed. Since then they have kept a jealous eye over all of the events con nectcd with the town and the Judson. Even then, saplngs as they were, If they had lifted their heads high enough they would have seen indications of change in the town. Down the street frem our present front gate along the sidewalk of this short street (which from henceforth we shall call Judson street, because it had Judson at the beginning and has one at the end two water oaks were that year planted along the sidewalk. The great live oak near Mrs. Hudsons was then q well grown tree, being about twenty-five years old, and the last survivor of the primeval for est which once covered fair Marion
 But the special signs of change which might have been observed were at tine other extremity of Judson street, and one square back of the present Baptist church. On the rising ground there stood house gray, unpainted and uninhabited. On day about Christmas 1S3S. there was the sound of hammer and nails; windows were thrown open and blue smoke was seen curling up from the unused chiIn- neys; wagons drew up at the gate and were unloaded of their freight. Each morning a very erect gentleman on n large black horse rode up to the gate, called the workmen to him. dismounted, walked around the building, remounted his horse and rode away What could be going on?
 't4.
 The first month of the year 1s39 Last week General King returned from visit to the University of Alabama. of which institution he was trustee. He brought good tidings with him. we judge, from the frequent visits which he made to Mir. Lockhart, Mir. Eornbuckle, MT. Wyatt ard MT. Goree, the gentlemen whose names were given above, and from the air of expectation which seemed to radi- 'afo from the group whenever they met in conversation.
 It was January 6. 1899. The first of the winter the beginning of bad roads and of the isolated life of old Marion. Late that evening there arrived in the village a carriage with travel stained and wearied horses. It drove up Main street. turned the corner at what is now the King house and drove on to the Eagle Inn. Three travellers alighted Uhere was no colored driver visible anywhere. an unusual thing in those days which indi- cated the travellers had come from the north). The first to -be seen was a tall fair man with a distinguished air of dig nity and looking about 35 years of age; then frail but resolute looking woman of about thirty, and last little girl in pinafore. Apparently they were expected, for the innkeeper received them with bustling hospitality; doors slammed left and right as he made them welcome. The gentleman asked for Mr. Edward D. King. but was told that his home was two miles out in the country, ..but there comes the general now" said the inn keeper as the great black horse came stepping down the street with the air of one who scorned the mud at his feet and the weight he bore.
 In the best parlor of the old inn that night there was long talk-talk until early in the morning. What was it about? We can guess. It must have been about schools and girls for this was General Edward D. King and Dr. Milo P. Jewett the founder of the Judson. And tomorrow a new school was opened After a candie-light breakfast the Gener- ai rode up again on his proud-stepping hois se, both apparently as fresh as if they