The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-24
POOR CHILDREN
 ARE MADE HAPPY Good Gifts Are Distributed By
 RnniSton N omen LIVELY VISITS PLANT
Belief That Deal Is On For Car Works Is Strenethened-John Stephens Is Robbed Near Jacksonville
 By Two Unknown Men.

Anniston, December 23.-(special.) )-The goddess of charity spread her wings in Anniston this afternoon and it was the children of the free Kindergarten that received the shower of gifts that fell therefrom, all sorts of candies, fruits, nuts. clothing and dainries being dis tributed to the little tots of the Westside at the Kindergarten school on West Thirteenth street.
 Mrs. D. B. Walsh the lindergartner presided over the distribution, which was made by Miss Emily Tyler Mss. J. B. Darlington Mrs. Wallace Conner. Mrs Leon Ullman, Mrs. W II. Weatherly Mrs. A. L. Tyler, Jr., Mrs. Willox and Mrs. Baker, a band of noble women who annually turn their charities toward this channel and make the poor little hearts happy.
 There was also a Christmas tree eel ebration at the Wilmer avenue public school under the direction Of Miss Mar garet Lea. the principal. Appropriate exercises were also held al the other schools of the city.
 These exercises marked the closing of the schools for the holidays and there was a general exodus of teachers to- day for their homes in various parts of the country.
 The holidays will last for about two weeks and during that time plans will be perfected for taking care of much larger number of students next year. Miss Gray and Miss Moore say they are expecting quite an increase in the attendance at Noble institute after the new year and the same report is made by Dr. Stagg of the Presbyterian col lege, who is now in Georgia.
 Bold Highway Robbery.
 No clue has been discovered as to the wherea bouts of the men who robbed John Stephens on the public highway near Jacksonville, news of which was received in this city yesterday. The rob bery was one of the boldest on record. The men approached Stephens under pre- tense of wanting to sell him some patent medicine and as soon as they got close enough to him bottle was thrust under his nose, the contents of which rendered him temporarily unconscious. When he awakened he found himself looking Into a revolver and one of the men looking for his purse. Fortunately he had two purses on his person and the one se- cured by the highwaynen contained only $2.
 Lively Visits Plant. The belief that there is Il deal of some kind under way for the purchase and operation of the big Annston car plant l was substantiated in the minds of many | today by a visit to the city of B. l.. ! Lively. general manager of the car plant at Lenoir City Tenn
 | MT. Lively declined to state his bus ! mess in Anniston, but he stated that he will be in the city again some time after the new year. about which time the lease of the Western Steel company on the Anniston plant expires, and this statement is considered significant In connection with the statement made by former Councilman W. r. Richie who was formerly connected with the local plant, that he would soon return here from Lenoir City to agan make his home in Anniston.
 | Furthermore, 1t is a krown fact that the yards are being cleaned. the tracks repaired and other Improvements made which give an air of general activity at the shops thus breeding optimism In Anniston. where much depends on the operation in full blast of the big in- dustry.
 | "Fire Water" Active. Christmas fire water ls in demand and there seems to be activity on the part of the blind tigers and moonshiners in supplying the wants. Deputy Collec- tor w. w Battle returned today from 1 Shinbone Valley where Ee yesterday | captured and destroyed two big stills, 1 the operators of which, however, eff fected an escape. In this city yester- day by means of employing a spotter and by the use of a marked dollar, Seab Callahan, negro, with only one leg, was captured and in police court this morning he was fined $100 and given six months on the streets.
 Judge Greene Improves.
 Judge James T. Greene, who has been critically i'll at his home in this city for several days, was reported as some what better this morning, though his condition is still considered precarous. Judge Greene was formerly recorder and is one of the most prominent members of the Anniston bar. He also stands high in the ranks of Confederate veterans, Elk and other fraternal organizations, and much concern Is felt over his ill- ness.
 Liquor Discussion. Section 21 of the constitution and by laws of the Union club, the new polit- ical organization in Anniston, provld- | ing that no liquors, beers nor malt should be stored in the room, was the sup- feet of no little discussion at the reg ular meeting of the club last night President Frank Farley finally put down the discussion by the statement that the provision was merely a measure in keep i ing with the statewide law. 1t was not the first time. however, that hquor 1 discussion has taken place m that room as it was only recently used as anti |