The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-18
MEMORIES oF OLD CAHAaA-

MEMUNtES OE OLU SAnA8A-f
 The memory of Cahaba. the first state Capital of Alabama. now dead, past hope of resurrection, should have an appealing interest to the Alabapian of the seventeesth century. The story of Cahaba is both a romance and e history. And yet until recently practi- cally nothing has been written of it. A newspaper man i've years ago set out to prepare an article on Cahaba. and search as he could through library after library and file after file. he could find no article about the dead city longer than a column. The issu- ance of Memories of Old Cahaba," by Mrs. Anna Gayle Fry of Selma. who. as a young girl and a member of one of the leading Dallas County families. had the privilege of enjoying the de- lightful social life and the ante- bellum town. The book is just from the press of the Methodist Publishing House at Nashville.
 It is an important contribution to the permanent history of the State. The fear has been felt that the mem cry of the old town would wither away until 1t had no more definite place in written history. than an Indian vil- lage built by people who had no lite- rature Mrs. Fry. in her attractive little volume, as 1t were, has restored the old town. A visitor could now take the book, locate every home in the little city. pick the spot where Lafayette was entertained, locate the offices of William Lowndea Yancey Edmund W. Pettus and John T. Nor gan. He could, without further in- cured one or two notable tragedies. Sufficient ruins of the old town remain. on which. with the books aid, the old physical aspect of the place could be reconstructed.
 But even more valuable. perhaps. is Mrs. Fry's splendid picture of tae so- cial life of the old town, which was. in all the South. one of the communi- ties most typical of the hospitality, grace and charm of Southern social life before the war. There Is a pathos in the presentation of these social de- lights which. like the scene upon which were placed at Cahaba, have gone to return no more.
 The reading AIabamian who takes pride and interest in the history of his State should feel an obligation to Mrs. Fry. She has assured Cahaba of place in the written history of the State. In other years the iuvestigat- ing student will seek knowledge and information of the dead and vanished capital and he will rely upon the vol ume into which Mrs. Fry has put her labor of love.
 part of the volume is in verse Mrs. Fry, like every other person who en- joyed the pleasure life in Cahaba, felt that in verse only could the tender and appealing memories of the passed joys be preserved. The old city, however, has been fully described and it's history volume The book is illustrated with rare pictures of. scenes in the old town.
 Like the recent history of Greens boro by Mir W. E. W. Yerby, the book Is an important contribution to. the literature of the State. Such under takings should be given athe4 heartiest encouragement and support by our people The example that has been set. too. should be eHiulated by capa- ble writers in cities and communities having the interest of the romantic or historical, The owner Of every library in the State should put this little vol ume among his most esteemed books.