The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-20

With the cOlnDlHeu eholiS VI AAiSHdN' to even leave on the day you have decided upon, and next to impossible to get any definite information from the agents at the station.
 The summer tourist meets his Water loo when he goes to interview the agent in a mountain village, or at some of the more important stations where it would be expected that agents would provide themselves with some information about the schedules.
 They seem to know absolutely noth- ing. When you tell them your destina- ton they look as if they never heard of it, or of the state in which you live. As for giving you any idea as to when you will arrive there you might just as well ask them when MT. Wellman will reach the North Pole.
 He is not in the least informed about connections and you give up in despair wondering what other course to pursue. Some of the experiences, amusing and otherwise, would seem to be exagger- ated when repeated. But those sum mer tourists who have ever tried to get information from a railway agent in the heart of the mountains will ap- preciate them and sympathize with the large number of summer travellers who are at the mercy of these indifferent folk.
 Only a few days ago party of three drove into a mountain village to in- ouire about the sch eduies. The agent said he would look them up and let them know the next day. Back they went again and the agent was not even in the station. They waited a half hour. or longer, and when he returned he told them that he had not had time to look into it, but would telephone them that afternoon.
 A day passed They drove in again, and after much interrogating found that they would have to make three changes before reaching tn cir destina- ton. but when they did not know, or at least the agent was uncertain at what hour in the night they would have to be transferred to another sleeper He also said that he could not get the tickets ready that day but would have them the next morning. They were to leave the following day By insisting, he was finally per noon, but when one of the party drove in for tn em they were still not ready He waited some time, and just as the agent handed them to him, it was dis covered that they had been stamped "19O7."
 The agent adjusted his glasses, did not even smile, and said he would have them ready the following morn- ing.
 At o'clock the next day some one drove in to the station. The agent had not even been down, and this woman drove over to his house, knocked in dustriously on the door and said she must see the agent
 That was the way she got her tickets.
 Another party of summer tourists. burdened with return tickets with stop over privileges, waited one hour at a little station in these mountains, without seeing the agent, who was to validate the tickets. The station was locked, and the party had to wait out side in the pouring rain as they had dismissed the carriage which had brought them in from a nearby coun- try house where they had been stay ing.
 The train arrived before they could sign their tickets, and they left with out attending to this iron-clad duty, and paid the fare between that point and Asheville, although their tickets allowed stop over in Asheville. And now they will be forced to return to ......ss...s..s.sss...s.. p. S. Powers are spending a part of the heated term on Shades mountain.
 MT. A. w. Nelson is at Tate Springs. Mrs. Culpepper Exun, who is at pres ent in Dayton, O., will spend two months in New York before returning home. |, Mrs. w. B. Leedy has as her guest her sister, Mrs. Petit of Memphis.
 MT. John H. Bankhead, Jr., of Jasper is in the city
 Mrs. Alexis Craven has returned from a visit to friends in Troy. Mrs. B. F. Moore has returned from Newman, Ga.
 Mrs. B. c. Stevens left this week for the coast, to remain several weeks. Misses Bessie and Ruth Sims will be the guests of MT. and Mrs. w. A. Major on the North Highlands until they leave for their future home in Knoxville. Miss Hattie Earle of Montgomery has as her guest Miss Fitts of Mobile. Miss Mamie D. Davis has returned from pleasant stay at Eastbrook Springs and other points in Tennessee. Miss Allison Smith is the guest of her aunt Mrs. C. B. Walker in Atlanta. Miss Smith has been the recipient of much so- cial attention during her stay, as she has visited Atlanta number of times, and has many friends there. Miss Sadie B. McCaskey left yesterday for Talladega, where she is a guest at a house party given by Miss McElverry. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher Humphries, MT. Ernest Hughes, Misses Maud and Rosa Davis, Misses Louise and Lula Archer, Miss Morris and Mrs. Dan Farmer have