The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-15

tration to improve the streets. A con-
 siderable amount of paving has been done
 on the sidewalks this year. Plans are on street in Bessemer.
 Clerks and Merchants.
 The situation between the clerks and
 merchants of Bessemer relative to signing
 the contract for the ensuing year, has un- dergone no material change today. A spe-
 cial meeting will be held by the mer-
 chants tomorrow night. committee from the clerks will confer with the mer- chants. The most sanguine say that mat
 ters will be satisfactorily adjusted. A
 prominent merchant said tonight that the
 demands of the clerks were unreasonable. The new contract specifics that the open ing hours shall be at o'clock a. m the year around. and the closing hours at during the summer months and during
 the winter months It also provides that
 the merchants shall employ none but
 union clerks. The merchants contend
 that to open and close at the hours named by the clerks would incur great loss to
 them. They also argue that it is unjust
 to require them to employ only union l men. The clerks say that their demands are less than a number of merchants in
 other cities are allowing their clerks The clerks are being backed by all the unions
 In the district. As the present contract
 expires Wednesday, the decision of the merchants and clerks tomorrow .ight will
 be final The matter is creating consider able interest and is the most discussed
 topic in the Marvel City at the present The council will meet in its regular meeting tomorrow night at the council chamber. Some important business is expected to come before the body. Doll Bazaar.
 Tomorrow, at II o'clock, the doll bazaar
 given by the Ladies Aid Society of the
 First Baptist church, will be formally opened in one of the rooms in the new Taylor building, on Nineteenth street and Fourth avenue This promises to be one | of the most interesting events of the hoi- | day season. The bazaar will remain open
 all the week.
 The ladies have been making extensive l preparations for the occasion for the 1 past two months. For the past week they have been decorating the hall in which
 the bazaar will be held. There are seven
 booths, and they have been tastfully de- corated The booths are the candy
 booth, which will be presided over by bevy of pretty girls; the popcorn booth. in charge of Miss Morgan at which pop corn will be served ia all styles; the cake booth, the Ladies Home Journal booth, the doll booth, the fancy work booth and the novelty booth.
 The two last booths are the most im- portant. The doll booth contains many handsome and valuable dolls most of which were donated hv candidates The ones given by Judge Stiles, George B. Tarrant and Harry Jones are the most admired. The fancy work booth has some very unique donations. many of these donations are from missionaries to China, India and Japan. The donators are residents of Birmingham, Boston, New York and other cities. One of the prettiest booths is the one donated by the publishers of the Ladies' Home Jour- nal It is done up in red and black col ors. There are all kinds of books and magazines for sale at this booth, and subscriptions will be taken for the Ladies' Home Journal.
 The bazaar will have the accustomed raffiing and voting contests. The valu- ables will be raffied off and given away by voting contests. The bridegroom doll will be awarded to the little girl that re- ceives the largest number of votes
 A special feature of the bazaar will be the refreshment department. The ladies are making elaborate arrangements to serve lunches.
 served from 12 to ] o'clock, will consist of turkey and c1 ebeTy sauce, salads, chicken, celery, cake and coffee. At all other hours during the day hot chocolate with whipped cream and oysters in all styles will be served.