The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-13

that tended toward peace. Yet. at the
very beginning of the struggle. he was
among the first to pour out his life blood
in defense of his invaded country; he fell
at Shiloh Before leaving Montgomery
for the front he called on a young girl
friend, carrying her a beautiful bunch
of roses AS he handed them to her he
said Those are the last roses 1 shall
ever bring you" She endeavored to meet
the sad presage with merry protest,
yet not lacking in friendly concern for his
welfare. In ten days the news Of his gal
liant death came.
New Years day in the south was uni
versally observed. and even the war
failed to Danish the hospitable custom
which appealed to the open-hearted
southerner. A warm welcome supple
mented the ecanty fare and took the
place of the once imported wines and
mocha coffee
On tho first of January. 1861, Mrs.
Henry C. semple had with her Miss Let
tie Tyler and Miss Theo Raoul, to add to
the pleasure of callers who usually came
from 10 in the morning to a late hour at
| night. After night had fallen Mr.. Al
pheus Baker was asked for song. This
he gave with spirit, Tho Marseilles."
As the song was finished Mr. Reuben
Thorn and Mr.. G.. Duva1 came in and
asked for Mr.. Semple. With closed doors
the three conferred. When the visitors
had gone Mrs. Semp1s inquired what all
that secrecy meant With great depres-
sion of manner Mr.. Semple replied, Sc
cession means war;" The gentlemen had
come to ask Mr. Semple to write Cover
nor Letcher Of Virginia-a warm personal
friend of Mr.. Semple's-to take possess
sion of Fortress Monroe. This means
war, the bloodiest war that was ever
known" This alarming news drove away
all New Years cheer; a horror fell upon
Mrs. Semple which creeps over her now
when she recalls the bodeful ending of a
day which in the south was one of festiv-
fly and good will-when men laid aside
business to pay court to fair women.
When, soon afterward. all the city was
Illuminated to celebrate the secession of
Alabama, she would not light one candle
in her home. Yet she gave UP her hus-
band to defend her country, but she could
not rejoice in the approach of fratri-
cldal war. Mrs. Semple has prepared a
most charming and valuable pamphlet,
1.-THE "Reminiscences of My Life"
Among those to whom the members or
| the Confederate congress owed many So
cial courtesies were Judge and MIS- b.
| s. Bibb. At the home on Moulton street,
| still occupied by their daughter, Mrs. NJ.
| d. Bibb-there was constant stream of
visitors. The simple elegance of life in
| this home was the constant remark or
| strangers-the homeopathy In Its atmos-
| phere. At the close of the war, when
| Gen. Wager Swayne was in charge of the
military affairs of the city, he, brave
,, man. stormed this citadel of southern ex-
| clusiveness and captured it-Judge, Mrs.
| Bibb and daughters. He plead that his
mission was to help-both white ana
black-and how could he hope to accom-
| plsh the task without coming in Gloss
| contact with the best elements of the
| citizenship? Judge Bib reluctantly con-
! sented to receive him as part of his
family but 1t proved great wisdom on
I the judges part, for In this way only
| could the true situation have been held
| so wisely and firmly in grasp by TINS
| loyal gentleman. The reserve OF great
many of the best families finally gave
way and Gen. Swayne was admitted to
| the social life of the city. He was son
] of the then chief justice of the United
| States supreme court. Judge Bibb never
| proved his loyalty to his country more
! eonclusively than by this sacrifice OF feei-
ing and prejudlces in the interest of pub
| lie welfare.
Another family noted for It's elegant en-
| tertainments was that of Judge and Mrs
| Phelan. From the wine used at dining
| given to President Davis James Chest
| mutt of South Carolina. Wigfall of Texas
| and other notable congressman, bottle
! was put away as memento OF the oc-
cosian and opened at< the marriage OF
Mary the daughter. to Capt. Watt. Mrs.
| Watt recalls that as little girl attend
| ing MI. Avery SlepSiu SAe
| crossed the capitol grounds and met
! many of the great men of that day. Alex
| ander Stephens made the most indeuplo
| impression on her mind.
| January and 8, 1861, were memorable
| days in Montgomery. regimental pa
| rade came off in the afternoon of the
! Sth out on the old race track, opposite
| the home OF Mr. Tom Vickers. At night
| a grand military ball took place at "Es-
! telle hall"-the two halls, Estele ana
Concert, being thrown together. Tho
| newspapers are bare of descriptions OF
| social affairs of those days-the very
! things that would make a newspaper man
| of today were considered of no concern
! to the general public. But the grey-haired
bellies of the sixties tell us that modern
| german does not compare with the old
| time ball The people who attended could
vouch for the great great grandfatners
of those with whom they danced or a.
] loved their sons and daughters to dance;
| in fact the festive occasion was Ike a
| gathering, of a Scottish clan, the most OF
! the assembly were related or neighbors.
| They danced the stately Virginia reel
| the Lancers (some of the ancestors OF the
| bellies present on the occasion hao
| danced with Lafayette" and his orother
| officers in revolutionary days in VIZ,
! ginia) and the cotillon. Old Estelle hall
| had seen several generations of dancers
| on its floors, then it served the sorrow
| nfl purpose of those seeking a wide, cool
! place for the wounded and sick. Then.
| when the war was over ana once Inore
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