The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-13
Some RecolLections of
 Incidents of A Long LneI

overland in q new country get fully posted as to route, distances and riv- CTS. This was before Arkansas tooth- picks were discarded and before Pine Biufr was engulphed by this big river.
 The Miller Excitement.
 I remember the Miller excitement, when many people. second day adven- lists thought the world was coming to an end soon. think the date for the final catastrophe was scheduled to occur in 1S43 or A.
 A man by the name of Miller, Hv- ing in Boston or elsewhere in New England, where all the fads and here sies originate, propagate and hyber- nate, had predicted that the world was to be destroyed that year. whether by fire or earthquake he did not say. But there was to be a convulsion, all and everything on this terrestrial globe was to be annihllated. and sinners as we'll as saints had better get their houses in order and prepare for the awful event when time should be no more" He proved 1t by prophecies in the Bible and by revelation, satisfac- torily to himself and many deluded followers. It was mathematically de- monstrated--there could be no doubt whatever. and the only thing to do was to be ready and join the procession.
  were all agog in anticipation of the final catastrophe, which was to end all their subliming hopes and fears In truth, his prophecy had so impressed the public that votaries were found outside the infected district, and even in conservative Alabama many people became nervous as the time drew near.
 As this appointed day for the great rnnvttlGiap chad ha saints began to pray and "get their houses in order" many put out their ascension robes, ready to bid farewell to this wicked, sinful world and fly to celestial climes
 The first shock struck Selma, the center of the universe. Mr. Adams kept hotel on Water street, near the steamboat landing. u was wooden building. MT. Robert Jemison Montgomery to Tuscaloosa via Selma. MT. Purviance was the agent here. A number of passengers and other guests were assembled around the great wood fire In the large hall discussing vari- ous topics, and naturally the convera- ton drifted to Miller and his won derful prophecy on the eve of fulfill ment. Some were ridiculously skepti- cal. some credu1ous. All of a sudden. WlLIOuI noL6 OI WdruiHBs SuCn u crash, such a fright and such a com motion--a panic--and such q stam- pede!
 "Earthquake: MiIler's production! :! World to an endF' were thought and said. The house emptied and the street full of credulous and incredulous. When the scare was over, the excitement calmed, the guests returned to the hall in the hotel to find that it was only the plaster overhead. that had fallen on the group and that the earth still moved. Many were the jibes and jests then passed, some denying and some admitting that they were scared. With this explosion, the Miller bomb exploded and the saints disrobed.
 This was before the negro woman in Louisiana saw the electric lights of the battleship Mississippi, thought the world ahre and Judgment day had come, collapsed and died.
 This was before Law and Order Leagues were deemed necessary In Ala baIha to ferret out and punish petty misdemeanors. to have secret detectives in the streets and public places--paid spies in your office. spies in house, spies in your closets, spies under your beds.
 This was before pretty girls in Selma wore glasses to hide their pretty eyes. and wore sugar loaf, stove-pipe hats, turned down, to hide their pretty faces Out maybe some of them have ugly faces, some afflicted with stabismus, have cross-eyes and wish to hide them). If so, they are excusable and have my sympathy.
 Selma, June 10, 1909.