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

9-HE development ot winter colohies kCA in the south has reached such
 point that the eastern coast of Florida is now referred to as the Ameri- can Riviera and is mentioned in the same breath with Newport and Monte Carlo And the smart colonies at Aiken and Thomasville have brought into equal prominence sections of North Carolina and Georgia. Even the Mississippi coast has its winter contingent, and so many sections of the south have in recent years become a mecca for the northern million aire during the winter months that l was not surprised, on a recent visit to tho Alabama coast to be told that few nllionares had decided to spend several weeks on the eastern snore Of Mobile bay, and that many fine old places along the coast, long neglected, were now being re- stored by wealthy owners and used as winter homes.
 l say that I was not surprised, and yet I was amazed when l learned of the large northern colony that has taken al- most complete possession of a charming section of the coast about twenty miles from the Gulf, and that every winter 
 most delightful winter climate, to drink in the fragrance of the magnolia-scented coast, and the beauties of a section of the south that rivals even the palm groves of Florida.
 The northern millionaires who have been attracted to the Alabama coast have not had the inducements offered in other sections of the south, where the winter colonies have every luxury in the world and where every effort Is made to pro- vide entertainment in the way of golf, hunting, tennis and the thousand and one things that may interest the leisurely class. There have been, unfortunate ly, no men like Mir F1agler and MT. Plant sufficiently interested to develope the eastern shore of the bay and the thousands of ths the possibilities of an ideal retreat where the soft breezes blow from the gulf and the bluest of lovely bays is an open gateway to the ports of the world.
 The northern contingent along the Ala hama coast open their winter homes late in December, and remain through Feb ruarS. Some of them spend only few weeks and their cottages are closed the remainder of the year.
 The handsomest place along the coast is owned by a northern millionaire who Is spending thousands of dollars in im-
  feet upon the bay. and private pier more than fifteen hundred feet long has been built The place has an interesting history, and was formerly owned by a wealthy southern woman It was built before the war and used as a summer home; its owner after the war; owing to the loss of fortune, residing there per- manently. But in the end the house passed into other hands and fell to de- cay.
 The architects and decorators now have charge of it for months during the year, an6 the landscape gardeners are being re- warded by the appearance of the magni- ffcent terraces and private parks that lead to the beach.
 None of the trees have been touched and there is an avenue of oaks. centuries old. and draped with the gray moss of the south
 'she people who own the house bring down large parties of guests on their yacht, and entertain luxuriously, sending ir advance their retinue of servants.
 There are other picturesque old places with a fine frontage on the bay, the peo- pie who own these winter homes pre- ferring to preserve. as far as possible, the natural beauty of the coast.
 There is a hotel that oVerlooks the bay and in architecture Is very much like the winter home of the Hltchcocks at Aiken. it was formerly owned by an old Vir- ginian and his wife whom every one call ed Aunt Betty" The two are buried side by side In the little church yard.
 The old place is full of memories. It is shadowy, dreamy, ideal, with avenues of oaks. cedars and magnolias so interlaced with Spar'sh moss that it is not unlike locking through a gray vista full of mys- tercs, anG leading on indefinitely to the vague coast line beyond, or ending ab-