The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-28
LITTLE STORIES OF THE TOWN
 THE MAJOR SEEKS ADVICE

Major Gotherox of the Black Belt ar rived in the city by one of the noon trains yesterday; and, having registered at a hotel and eaten a hearty meal, lighted a cigar and made his way leisurely through the hurrying crowds. whom he regarded with mingled condeseension and pity to the office of his old friend and former townsman, John Seewell, Esq.
 Never mind about my card" said the major affably to the office boy. "I haven't got one, and if had 1 wouldn't waste 1t on John l am going right in
 Mir Seewell was rushing his afternoon mail, and he looked up with some impa- tlence as the shadow of the major fell upon his desk, but smiled as soon as he recognized his visitor, whose face con- jured up vision of the quiet country town wherein the happy days of their boyhood had been passed.
 You may go." he whispered to the pretty stenographer. 'Sit down, Major"
 Whereupon they began to talk of things with which we have no concern. At last, however, the major said
 John, l came all the way up here to get some advice from you"
 What's the trouble major?" asked MT. Seewell. sympatheticaliy.
 Well. John it's a kind of trouble I never expected to be afflicted with-too much prosperity"
 'Indeedv'
 "Yes. It's this way: Since we bagn to get a good price for cotton, I've paid off all my debts, bought a little more land, added an l. to the old house and done a lot of other things, and I have some money left, and I don't know what to do with 1t. It isn't earning It's feed, laying in the bank down there. drawing no in- a. I ,.4 eg rnflr
 You are right, major. Idle money Is dangerous It's always begging you to spend 1t, for one thing; and then it's sim full, a waste of power not to use it.
 The major nodded his head approving ly. That's the way I look at it." he said There are couple of dozen men in our county in the same fix I'm in-money in bank and don't know what to do with it. It's going to be worse next year, too, be- cause the Cotton Growers association has brought the spinners and gamblers to taw, and we are sure of decent prices from now on So I told them l would run up and see you about it, and they agreed that were as level-headed a man as we could find"
 Much obliged for the compliment. You spoke of buying some more land. Have you got all you want?
 "Yes," said the major. emphatioally. I'm not going to turn fool and buy my self landpoor, like some of the people in our county are doing. They can't get labor to cultivate what they had already, and I'm afraid that extra farming land of theirs, which they can't attend to, will wash away all the money they have put into 1t. And besides, the price of farm Ing land has risen out of all reason. Now about this money of mine. Pm no hog. If I can get 8 per cent for 1t I'll be sat- isfled."
 MT. Seewell smiled. Flight per cent is large interest in these days of plentiful money, major. However, if you will invest your money in Birmingham real estate believe you will get that much for It. if not more"
 Honor bright, John?"
 "Yes"
 "wel, I'm ready to believe anything YOU say, but didn't lot of people get their fingers burnt handling Birmingham dirt in the boom days?"
 "Yes, that Is true. But an entirely new Birmingham has sprnng up since the boom. No city in the country rests on more solid basis today. We are shooting boomers on sight now"
 "John are all these stories which we see in the newspapers about big indus trial developments true?"
 "Yes, major, in substance, If not in de- tall. Since it has been demonstrated that steel can be made in Birmingham on