The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-21
MRS. T. O. SMITH
Photo by Stephenson Studio

comers to the city to Immediately form
an association with 1t. It's convenience
to the city-Fifth avenue being withi1
easy sauntering distance from the busl
ness portion of Birminghanl--recom
mends 1t. but best of all is the reputa-
ton which 1t bears for exclusiveness
elegance, congenfality and quiet lux
ury of surroundings and service--the
things for which social hostelry of thi.
type should strive.
With the new winter garden, more
spacious quarters, both of veranda and
interior, the facilities for entertaining
will be so greatly increased there Is
little doubt of the brilliance of the APP
preaching season. The architecture.
plans promise a big beautiful cafe in
the top of the building. with the pres
ent basement apartment to be used as
a grill room. other splendid arrange
ments viii be made and the club re-
decorated so that the annual Thanks
giving reception this year will .be the
most brilliant and beautiful in the
clubs history.
Officers
Col. T. o. Smith, who succeeded Mr.
j.. Rivers Carter as president of tn,
club. will be ideal in the role Of hosi
during its hospita1ities, as he is one
of the most gracious and affable men ii
society. He is a representative Of
wealthy old jefferson county fam.
lily and has always been a social fav-
orite. His wife is a delightful woman;
her culture and intellect are evident in
the fact that shells president of one of
the strongest literary clubs of Blrming
ham, the Highland Book. and her civic
influence and charity in that she is Sec
rotary of the Young Women's Christian
association of which she has been an
officer for several years. Mr.. ]. w.
Mcqueen, the vice president of the club,
has been like Colonel Smith associated
with 1t for number of years and is
spending there most of the leisure
hours of very busy man.. Unlike the
president, Mr.. Mcqueen Who, in the
natural order of things, will perhaps
succeed him in this position, is not ono
of the pioneer folk, but representa-
tive of one of the most distinguished
Carolina families.
However. the president and vice presi-
dent OF the club may be pronounced alike
in one thing--ther mutual love of fiow-
ers. Colonel Smiths gardens at Gray
mont form one of the show places OF
Birmingham, and he Is perhaps almost as
we'll posted on rose culture as he Is on
banking methods. Mr. and Mrs. Mcqueen
have beautiful home out on Seventeenth
street, south, where the old-fashioned
garden is always in bloom. and one of
the most interesting corners is occupied
by great crepe myrtle tree. which was
planted by the formers mother, the late
Mrs. Sara Pickens Mcqueen. The tree,
which is now in bloom, is unusually SYM
metrical and 1t is sentiment of Mrs
McQueen's that none of the flowers shall
be broken. As Mr.. Mcqueen is repre-
sentative of the South Carolina aristoc-
racy, so does Capt. Frank Demere, the
recently appointed secretary OF the club
represent the best type of Georgian aris-
.tocracy. He is a native Of Savannah
generations and where his former home
was the center OF distinguished hospitality
in times past.
Early History
1t Is a coincidence that the present
vice president of the Southern club Is
brother OF the first president of the
organization, Mr.. John Mcqueen. In re-
calling the history of this, the Oldest OF
all local social organizations, 1t was quite
in the nature Of things that the frs
president should have been sought out
for his story of its founding, and he tells
story that will interest all of the frs
comers. He says that the club origi-
mated away back yondcr where the mem
ory of man scarcely reaches--especialll
the latter-day man, whose life is crowd
ed and jammed with transactions Incl
dent to and necessary for daily existence
''The old Komos club" says Mr.. Nc
Queen. was organized one night in DC
tober, 1890, in the late Capt Ed War
rens real estate office. down on Twen
tieth street between First and secont
avenues. 1t was a german club and there
We're only eight gentlemen present-Dor
Kinnebrew. Ed Beard, the two Bard
well Brothers. Lee Carrell, John Warrel
and myself. or that number the tw,
Bardwell brothers are dead and Don Kin
hebrew is dead: Lee Carroll is a sue
cessful lawyer in New Orleans and JOIN
Warren Is, as you know. head of thu
splendid Arm Of Warren Bros. in thi
city. and Ed Beard is a successful bust
ness man of st. Louis. That leaves onl,
the two of us here as original members
Those were great old days." continued
Mr. Mcqueen. reminisoently. Back ii
1890 Birmingham was In formative state
socially speaking - otherwise. Youn,
men Of every concsivabie Esction-y younI