The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-22
HEFLlN DINNER AT
 SOUTHERN CLUB
EIGHT SONS ENTERTAIN FRIENDS IN HONOR OF FAT HER, WHO CELEBRATED HIS BOTH BIRTH DAY YESTERDAY.

The annual birthday banquet given by the eighf Ieain boys te their father. Dr N. L. lIehin was held isst night at the Southern cnh. The ocea- slon was the sotb birthday of Dr. lief lin. and the eoth annual celebra tion that has been held by the family.
 Besides the immediate members O. the family there were some 70 guests. including many prominent citizens of Birmingham Among the speakers were the Rev. Dr. John W. Stagg. the Rev. pr. $. L. Dobbs. the Rev. Dr. J. \. Duncan. B. NJ. Allen. Dr. l.. & Haudley. James Weatherly, Belton Gilreath, A. Iatady. Judge C. w. Ferguson Rev. T. T. J. Brandon, j. Thomas Hehin and the Rev. pr. A. J. Dickinson.
 The hosts of the evening were Dr. Wyatt Helin. Congressman J. Tk onlas Hehin. who arrived just in time from Wash ington, J ohm T. Hefin, pr. Howell n Heflin, Solicitor H. P Hefin, the two Methodist ministers of the family, Marvin R. and W. w. Hefin, and the .xeu known farmer. Robert L. Hef1in.
 Dr. w. L. He1in of Roanoke ad- dressed the gathering at length. In part he said:
 My friends Alabama was admitted into the Union nine years before l was born. and l am s0 years old today. have seen the state pass through T long and bloody war. II was strug- lging for the preservation of the llights of the state which in the old school. were considered the first and Fundamental principles of the federal constitution.
 have witnessed and shared every pain that she suffered in the troublous times of reconstruction. Those who live Nn other sections of our country can never know what the people of the south had to contend with in the dark days that followed the war. l have seen the brave men who returned from the war overcome and disappointed and in a sense disheartened struggling with the new order of things-an order Iof things which if allowed to wofS its way meant the overthrow of white supremacy and the destruction of ali that was dear and sacred to ths south. ] am now an old man, and l am glad Ito be q ble to say that l contributed al that was in my power to contribute to restoring law and order and to driving lOut the scallawags and carpet bagGers
 My friends. those were trying times with bitter and vexing problems In those distressing days every man had to work in the day time and make what he could for the support and maintenance of a suffering people, and often at night we would meet counsel itogeth CT and plan ways and means foe the common welfare. It was danger lous then to go out anywhere at night. Many and many a time I attenda ad these meetings with my neighbors in east Alabama when nobody save our selves knew where we were-not even our own families. It would do no good ito tell them, and We knew they would be uneasy about us until we returned. But for the firm and determined stand taken by the southern people at that time the south would have been un- done and ruined.
 Ii have watched the remarkable growth and development of my state since those dark and dreadful days, and I rejoice te see on every hand the marked evidences Of industry and enterprise among our people.
 Or course I want to see the whole coun- try prosper but l want to see my own state first and foremost of them all.
 The pleasures and pursuits of my chil- dren constitute the chief concern and pleasure of my life now. and if they do well and use their powers and opportuni- ties for good l could ask no more
 My friends, l am glad to have you all here tonight Another year with all its marvellous possibilities has come and gone since We met here to celebrate my 79th birthday. That was a delightful ocCa- sion to me. and we are having a very pleasant evening now. When you boys get to be as old as l am you will know