The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-25
A Day UIuh 7he Blrmlngham
 Colony At BLn1f Park

turns and loops in the road that sug- gest the dizzy curves in the western roads, and when the top is reached one looks down on as pretty scene as may be found. Forests of young trees. bathed in blue haze, and stretching toward a slope of gentle hills above neat farms and villages-such meets the eye as far as 1t can reach when one looks down from the vantage of the bluffs. The Bluff Park hotel, with it's broad front, electric lighted, observed by those entering Bir- mingham at night past OXmoor, as It hangs above the city like some giant lighthouse suspended from the sky. Its wide veranda extends from end to end, about 200 feet and with "old hickory fur nishings is a retreat that attracts the guests during the day and the evening. An innovation that Is particularly artistic and adds much to the comfort of the veranda is the immense sitting room, built in the center of the upstairs porch and providing a shaded space below, where several large swings give much pleas ure to the little folks, who play about in it An inviting living room leads to the huge dining room beyond, but except for writing few seek the seclusion 1t af- fords, the verandas above and below being chosen for the bridge games which af- ford favored pastime for the summer dwellers in the big greenhouse.
 Most of the summer people on the mountain live at the hotel which Is receiving a patronage merited by its at fractions and it is very gratifying to ob- serve that with improvements in other respects Birmingham has, too, a summer resort where the stay-at-home may find a happy change from the city's noise and heat. One of the picturesque spots that is sought by the vacationist is the spring whence comes the chalybeate water for which many of the guests go to Bluff Park. The creek near the Edward West cottage is another pretty stretch of water tucked away among the trees and rocks. There are many such quaint hooks to be sought by the leisurely summer visitor with jolly good book to be read in solitude.
 The Saturday evening dance is one one of the pleasant breaks in the routine at Bluff Park. A coterie of young people up for the weekend and joined by parties motoring out at dusk for dinner and back home after the dance makes the evening very gay. An orchestra goes out from the city. There are frequent automobile parties during the week as well, hardly a day passing without at least one, for this Is probably the best motor trip about town and at evening may be pleasantly broken with a stop at the hotel for dinner before the return
 A cluster of cottages surrounds the hotel and overlooks the bluffs, while at some distance away there are several others, the tendency being to encourage an enlargement of the little settlement.
 Adjoining the hotel is the summer home of Mir Beecher Adams, a pretty cottage encireled by veranda above and below Next to this is the w. w. Coghill home built several seasons ago by MT. and Mrs. Sharpley. It is most attractive with It's low roof and wide veranda. "Bon Air" the little green bungalow of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Yates, is one of the most artistic homes on the mountain. Built of rough stained clapboards the rustic effect is enhanced by the columns of tree trunks still encased in the bark Large trees cast a perpetual shade and make the veranda which surrounds the bungalow tempting place to the passer- by. The house Is constructed after a picturesque plan. One enters a double door on each side of which is another door always kept open and providing a constant draught of the cool, sweet moun- tain air These doors lead to the living room a broad apartment which extends entirely across the front of the house, quaintly pretty with its comfortable fur nishings and pictures and the deer antlers hungnear the low ceiling. The adjacent bungalow is "C1iff Crest" the Hanahan cottage occupied this season by Dr. and Mrs. Douglass and another of the pretty places on the cliffs.
 Beyond the hotel, which is the center of this little colony. is the Jonas Schwab cottage and several picturesque bung- allows. One of the most attractive is "Fairview Cottage" the summer homo of pr. and Mrs. J. l.. Frazier who are pass ing their first summer with the colony on the mountain and plan to remain until late fall, when they will take possession of their new home at Mountain Terrace. The interior is charming, each room being a marvel of simplicity and art. All are grouped about a central living room, which is quite perfect from a decorative standpoint This cottage was built by Dr. and Mrs. Mansfield Lathem, who made their home In it for some time, both winter and summer. The adjoining lot was recently sold to Dr. George Brown who purposes building immediately. A trifie further along the bluffs is the lt- tie brown bungalow of MT. and Mrs. Ed ward West, which is perfectly ideal, both as to the interior of the house and the gardens. The flowers are lovely, repre- senting a great deal of care and atten- ton on the part of Mrs. West, who Is an altogether perfect little homemaker
 There are not only plants but each one seems endeavoring to outvy the other in the number of It's blooms, with the | result that surrounding the little browr house and next to the fence is a verit. | able symphony of color tones.
 l Tucked away In the woods and separate
 from the other summer colony are ths 1 Tunstall Perrys and MT. and Mrs. Walter | Fowlkes. whose homes are among the newest and prettiest. The bungalow ol | MT. Fowlkes was erected first and already
 there are flowers and vines hanging from
 the boxes on the long porch, which fol lows an almost established rule in the
 summer habitation and rambles all around
 the house. The roof is the bungalow typ,
 with overhangng caves, its green tone. contrasting prettily with the brown
 stained house. Across the way is tn,
 home of MT. Tunstall Perry pictur, ' of rest and quiet among the shadow,
 trees. The rustic exterior which Is S,