The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-05

NA /
 store at picture which seemed to interest him greatly In one hand he carried a heavy gold-headed cane. His clothes were not in fashion, but they were fine in texture. There were patrician lines and wealth of good humor in his kindly face. The artist had seized upon beau tiful theme-a glimpse of life in the old ante-bellum days when chivalry covered multitude of sins. Two colonial belles stood before one of those spacious gates of wrought Iron which have been so long associated with 'Merrie England" On each side extended an ivy-colored wall of stone, also suggesting a manor that would fit the best traditions of the Plan tagenets. Through the half-open gate one caught a vista of broad, we'll kept estates where beauty lurked and peace and plenty reigned. One of the girls in her quaint attire of yesterday, were courtesying pret- tily to a gallant, just introduced, who bowed low before his charming acquaint- ance, with smile on his lips and a flash of admiration in his handsome eyes. By the reins he held a mettlesome horse, which by its bearing proclaimed itself we'll worthy or Sucn a rider.
 The old gentleman looked at this pie ture with a reminiscent smile and 1t was easy to see that his thoughts dwelt on another day, later, perhaps. than that in the mind of the artist, but still long enough ago to be a part of the past. He turned to younger man standing near and said: After all. there are no days like the old days. You young fellows boast of the progress that the world Is making and the comforts you now enjoy. but older men. who have outlived our usefulness revert contin- with a halo of romance and of chivalry that seems lacking today. I can remem- Der when the gallantries of the old south made her people the most charming in the world. They are still gracious and kind-do not misunderstand me-but in different way. Nowadays people don't have the time for the old-fashioned cour- tesies of fifty years ago. Perhaps 1t Is just as well, but a picture like that in the window always stirs my .reco1lectlons, sets my fancies to roaming and brings tear to my eye. I see the kindling of a love match in the glance of that young fellows eyes, and I am sure that blush ing girl will dream about him some day. Their wooing would make pretty story The scene effects me deeply because re- call a meeting very similar to that, when I first-but, pardon me. We old fellows dwell too much in the past I have detained you''-and with a part ing smile, he walked slowly down the street.
 Rider Haggard's "Ayeshe" is sequel to She" by the same admirable 'pipe dreamer" Of all the books that have gripped youthful readers in the past older persons have not been exempt-none perhaps surpassed "She" in it's partic- ular field Who cannot recall that mo- mentous night, when the awesome hour of 12 had been tol1ed off by the clocks and bells when the whole world seemed locked in impenetrable silence; the ordi- nary affairs of life were forgotten, day light was a million years removed in the future and you sat devouring the pages of "She'' with breathless haste, your nerves atingle and thrills chasing them selves up and down your back? It was great!
 A correspondent asks, ''Where Is heaven?" It Is difficult for us to say, but, musical comedy comedians to the con- trary notwithstanding, it is safe bet that heaven Is not within a thousand miles of Broadway.
 A Maryland man who has sufficient means of support advertises for some kind of useful and permanent employ ment las pastime" A deluded mortal who goes around looking for work when