The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16

HANDSOM tinuation of the colors found in the neigh
 boring home, but with a style of archi- lecture entirely different, it being entirely l modern in character.
 The little church on Highland avenue adds as much as any other building 10 l the tone of refinement and culture. Here we see embodied the spiritual sense and the passersby feel a grateful sense of i peace and satisfaction, not in any way ] a thing of creeds CT dogma, on behold i ing here in the midst of so much that is gay and inconsequent place of wor- ship
 To add to the atmosphere of culture disseminated by the little gray church is that impressive pile-the Margaret AL | len school-which has stood for several years in its stately grandeur on this, the city's fashionasIe thoroughfere. The building is a massive stucco edihce, Of a design at once modern and colonial in effect. the latter suggested by the col umns grouped about the porches. With in the assembly rooms and private re- ception rooms are wonderfully attractive and cosy. an appearance of home pre- sented in the pretty furniture with q grand piano, and plants of unusual beauty always decorating the stage in the as- semblv room. Nearby is the home of the Birmingham bachelors Theirs is one of the most attractive of places and has many times been the scene of some of the most delightful functions The bachelors are a genial party of Birmingham so- ciety men. Their menage is composed at present of MT. Erskine Ramsay, MT. C. NJ Brown, MT. O. P Gaut, MT. ]. NJ Frerson. MT. Htnds Peevey, MT. R. i B. Brown and MT. B. T. Head, who IS I a temporary bachelor, or rather, sum mer widower as he awaits the coming of his family from Kentucky. This at tractive home is the property of MT Ramsay It formerly belonged to MT. and Mrs. Caldwell Bradshaw, who oc- j cupied it for a number of years. It is l excellently cared for, it's smooth lawn 1 and beds of bright colias being a lesson in the care of a home which it might be well for many to heed However, one vvacious little lady remarked a few days ago: "I don't see the bachelors fence coming down yet It is one of the very few left standing now on the avenue It is not a bad looking fence as fences i go-an iron affair; but it only extends l across the front and a person who does not approve of opening gates may walk around it if he likes. so it does not really
 
 ] Bradshaw are at present occupying an attractive cottage next door to MT. Ram says residence.
 A charmingly unique home on the ave- nue one finds further along the drive. It is that of MT. and Mrs. Jack w John- son. built in the low, rambling cottage 1 style rather rococo in character The large ballroom has been the scene of | in ~1x days of Birmingham. for MT. and Mrs l Johnson are never more delightful than when as host and hostess they have open
 ed their doors to their friends. This great room used both as dining and ball. room, s superbly furnished with its mas
 sve hish-backed chairs and table and
 it's exquisitey tinted walls. The sur
 rounding lawns and gardens are pictur- esque from every point of view and they are the result of the study and thought
 of Mrs. Johnson, In whom the artistic
 sense is paramount.
 Next to the Johnson place is the cot
 tage of MT and Mrs. John w. Sibley. which stands on the corner of Highland avenue and Sycamore street. It was built | by MT. and Mrs. George c. Ball and | later occupied by MT. and Mrs. c. P. | Perrin during the years when they were so prominently associated with social af- fairs in this city Many will recall the brilliance and originality of the enter
 tainments which made Mrs. Perrin's
 fame as a hostess. After Mir. and Mrs.
 Perrin left Birmingham for home in
 New York and from time to time, Paris
 and London, their cottage was purchased
 by Mrs B. c. Johnson. who later built
 her lovely home at another point along
 the avenue, when Judge and Mrs. Howze
 became the owners. They have since
 sold it to MT. and Mrs Sibley who make
 it their home. Just before reaching these
 residences one passes the colonial dwell-
 ing of MT and Mrs. Leo K. Steiner. It
 is one of the handsome homes along the
 avenue, conspicuous with it's tall columns
 of white in bold relief against the dark
 brown color. Near by Is the substantial
 and imposing frame house of MT. Chris
 tian F. Ensley, in design modern dwell
 ing of the style used extensively about
 15 or 20 years ago. This was in those days the home of the late MT. Morgan Smith.
 Just where the automobile makes its first turn is thought by many to be the most beautiful point along the avenue. Here the perfectly paved street makes a wide sweep, it's curve bringing into prominence some of the loveliest homes in the city. The cottage of MT and Mrs. Walker Percy is placed at some distance from the entrance and is not of the en- croaching type that makes itself seen willing or unwilling. It is rather unas- suming than otherwise, and ones first l impression is that of-we might say per feet grooming. Since it was built eight or nine years ago no one has even seen ' 1t when lack of attention was in the ! least degree evident. The lawns were sodded by experts and are kept in the perfection of smooth greenness. A near CT inspection proves the house to be of the most symmetrical and tasgsful ar chitecture. It is a Queen Anne cottage and developed in brown stone and a dark wood. The interior is beautiful The spiral stairway is one of the most artistic and unique to be found in the varied homes of Birmingham. The den a cool, green nook in the rear of the house, is one of the prettiest rooms imag.