The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-03

the same time far enough away to enjoy all the advantages of country atmosphere and scenery.
 In going to the club one gets off the car at a new station on the street car | line, and turns to the right, up a new street which has just been opened, and which leads to the big double gates, built on the plain mission style which has be- come so popular, and which characterizes every thing about the club. even the piano and billiard tables made specially for the club
 On entering the gate a walk leads to the front of the club house, while drive way winds around lower down the hill and makes a complete circle of the house l in order that the carriage steps on the | far side may be reached.
 The attention of the spectator is first | attracted by the enchanting view Look | ing across a small valley in which is | the lake one sees another small hill ris- 1 ing on the other side and on which the grass is beginning to look luxuriant. On either side are woods. in places very thick In the distance is an excellent view of Birmingham, showing the most attract tive parts of the city. Immediately in front of the club house is a terrace slop- ing down to the lake, which is a hum dred yards away. This terrace Is being sodded, and two large flower beds are be- ing made on either side of the walk which goes down to the lake. In month the terrace will be all green, with the two bright spots made by the flowers.
 Golf Links.
 Just to the left of the club as one ap- breaches it is the first T of the golf links and from the club may be seen several greens and Ts of the course, which will be one of the prettiest, as well as the most difficult to be found in the south Across from the club house. on the hill where the Alabama club had its summer home in its balmy days when the lead ing social organization of the city, is one of the holes a pretty drive of 300 yards across the lake.
 Stone steps lead to the spacious porch, which is one of the most attractive feat ures of the club. The porch is about four teen feet wide, and runs almost entirely around the building. Comfortable chairs are being placed on 1t, and In summer, if there are any breezes, they will be found on this porch. From it the view Is excellent in several directions.
 In order to get inside the big reception room of the club house, one can go through either of two doors, one on each side of an immense bay window. As soon as you enter the reception hall, you real ize how completely the mission idea in the furniture and fixtures has been car ried out, and also the immense amount of time and trouble the committees have spent in getting everything to conform with this idea. They also recognize at a glance that they are In one Of the pret- tiest club houses to be found In this country. Although not as large as some, 1t is safe to say that there are none which present a handsomer, at the same time a cosler appearance. Good 1 everything.
 For Comfort.
 Tn the center of the reception room is A round comfortable seat, and scattered about the room are two dozen big arm chairs which are conducive of laziness in spending a free-from-care evening" sum mer or winter. In the big bay window or the reception room Is a window seat running entirely around it, and the piano, which Is very handsome instrument, and at the same time rather peculiar. It is plain Flemish oak. like all the fix tures. and was made specially for the club The plainness of everything is striking, but the effect is very pleasant to the eye.
 The chairs. window seats, and In fact everything in the room has big thick cushions, and are the essence of ease and comfort However. the most striking feature of the reception room Is the inn mense open hearth which faces the door, and above which lead the stairs to the upper floor
 Great andirons capable of holding big logs, sit back in the fire place, and above them rise this beautiful mantle. Above 1t are cut in the woodwork in Eve olde Eng lish," the characteristic quotations:
 .,Around this hearth ye will always find welcome and good cheer"
 There is raised platform around the hearth, and the entire place occupied by it, is probably twenty feet wide. On either side are seats. In the winter. with big fire in the hearth, many people can sit around it and enjoy themselves.
 On the left of the reception room and opening into 1t through a wide arch way. is the reading room, with tables and comfortable chairs. There are thick and handsome rugs on the floors, which throughout the entire building are of the finest hard wood. Everything in this room