The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-10


meanor
| Of course II is during the daylight that
the busiest scenes are enacted, as a ma
| jority of persons choose this more con-
venent time to begin a journey, but It is
/ when night comes and covers the scene
with the glamor of dim lights and strange
and uncanny sounds that the prosaic
gives place to the picturesque, and the
dimly lighted waiting rooms look like
reproduction of some old painting.
Reclining In grotesque attitudes ON the
benches that were evidently constructed
with a purpose single to making people
sit up and take notice and not to WOO
gentle sleep, many strange figures are
seen. Here is a mother surrounded by
brood of tired and restless children, enc
of whom If not all simultaneously, is
constantly wanting a drink of water or
something to eat from the lunch basket
: there a portly gentleman, chin recumbent
| on chest, glazing IN silent rage at the
posted announcement that his train Is two
hours late; near him a young man and
a maid who do not care If the train runs
off the track, so long as they can hold
hands and be near each other. And there
Is the inevitable immigrant sometimes
singly, but more often in groups, with
strange and outlandish appearing bag
gage piled high around him-stolid of
conntenance, patient In his ignorance of
strange tongue and stranger customs
Over In the corner that is shrouded in
the deepest gloom, half reelines and half
sits tramp who is tilching a nights
lodging and little sleep, but who be-
comes preternaturally awake when the
watehful eye of the night Waterman is
turned his way.
This scene is interrupted from time to
time during the night by the voice of the
train caller and the nrushing noise of
train. There is hustle and confusion for
time. Then all is quiet as the noise Of
retreatng cabs dies in the distance and
the figures on the benches shift to less
uncomfortable positions Gradually the
sky lightens in the east; the noise of
passing wagons and the changing of street
car gongs become more insistent; tho
reclining figures stretch, yawn and be-
gin to move about; the tramp leaves his
corner and seeks the shelter of some hos
pitahle saloon; the morning crowd be-
gins to appear, and the long night is over
Two marriages. one birth and one death
are remembered by the old employees. The
first of the marriages occurred about
twelve years ago. A young man, equipped
with license and minister, appeared at the
station at o'clock In the morning and
oonfded to the station master that his
sweetheart was leaving her home against
| the wishes and without the knowledge
of her parents, and that the marriage GER
! emony was to be performed as soon as
| the train arrived. The train came, but
| the girl did not For three successive
mornings the young man, the license and
| the minister were on hand but the girl
was missing. On the fourth morning she
came, love had found a way, and the
marriage service was performed in the
| waiting room before crowd of interested
| spectators. The couple still live in Biz
mingham, and often are seen at the sta
| ton, where they always pleasantly greet
the old employees who witnessed the mar
riage.
The second wedding took place a few
| years ago. The couple evidently met by
accident at the station and soon decided
to be married. The man came up town,
was past midnight and the waiting room
was the scene of another. presumably,
| happy union.
The death was that of an old lady who
came In on one train and was waiting
for another She had gone into the re-
firing room where her body was found
later by an attendant. She had died of
heart failure.
Some years ago a lady became i'll while
waiting for a train. She was a stranger
and an ambulance was called. AS she was
being placed In the ambulance she gave
birth to a child.
So 1t will be seen that the old station
has had its share of life's lights and
shadows. Beneath the busy hustle there
are always running threads of pathos,
love, tragedy and comedy.