The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-14
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
MANY AND VARIED

Il
The streams of the state are never
closed by ice and afford more than 1900
miles of navigable water within it's boun
daries. Its educational system was
founded on a grant of public lands by the
federal government, and more than
100000 is spent every year on the public
schools. The states agricultural re-
sources are many and varied and now
that the farmers are beginning to devote
more time and attention to diversified
farming a great increase in the landed
wealth of the state is looked for.
In the life of every man, woman and
child in this country. each and every
birthday is one of the gala days of the
year. Always some particular festivities
are arranged, an outing. and certainly
party or dinner. the decorations for
which consist largely of an enormous
cake covered with waxen tapers.
Everyone devotes especial attention to
his or her own birthday. But In only
one mind has there developed the idea of
birthday party for state. Mrs. Idyi
King Sorsby. In the days of her childhood,
conceived the idea. She was In the midst
wreath of jessamine upon her brow, when
the thought suddenly occurred to her that
the state of her nativity ought to have a
birthday party, Through the efforts of
patriotic mother a love for her state had
been deeply impressed upon her mind
and heart at an early age and when thu
idea of birthday for Alabama oc-
CURED to her 1t was not a passing fancy.
She kept the flame glowing and when
she had attained sufficient influence to
make her presence felt she began to
spread abroad the idea of her childhood,
FIRST BIRTHDAY
PARTY HELD IN 1897 So
At first 1t was received with doubt ana
many of the lady's friends were inclined
to ridicule her, But notwithstanding all
this she kept up the fight bravely. maxi
ing her preparations for real birthday
party instructing the children of the
schools, The first birthday party given
the state took place in 1897 and each
year since on December IA a celebration
in honor of the admission of Alabama
to the union has been held.
1t has long been Mrs, Sorsby's desire
that there be a statewide centennial cell
ebration in 1919, with an especially bril-
liant observance in Birmingham, which
she believes to be the greatest achieve
ment of the state in it's first century OF
bama as a state will be here in few
years and many agree with that
there should be celebration on "A mag
nificent scale, Mrs. Sorsby's idea is
gaining new friends every day,
In connection with the centennial cels.
bration in 1918 Mrs, Sorsby also wants a
large symbolic or allegoric statue to be
unveiled m Birmingham, This is to be
made of native marble and placed on q
handsome pedestal in Capital park, or
some other spot to be selected in Bir-
mingham,
Mrs. Sorsby's first work in Alabama en-
deavor and attempts to have December
IA set aside as a day to celebrate was
in 1886. About 1890 more active efforts
were made and continued, despite the fact
that they we're met by apathy,
Failing in her attempt to have the
! state devote an entire day to the ceebra-
tion of it's birth, Mrs. Sorsby, in 1897, or
ganized the Pierian club at East Lake,
for the purpose of reorgantzing and hon
oring Alabama's birthday, This club had
for its motto, Purity and Patriotism"
and was literary organization. It now
makes of December IA each year day to
be remembered and always has a new and
novel form of celebrating the day,
FIRST CELEBRATION
VERY SUCCESSFUL
On December IA, 1889, the first formal
celebration of Alabama Day was held.
under the auspices Of the department of
history of the Woman's club, at that
| time in the height of its glory. Mrs
Sorsby was director of this department
and had arranged a programme on Ala
hama history for the years study.
The celebration proved a decided suc-
cess and printed slips were mailed to the
governor Of each state in the union, de-
scribing in detail the event. Replies were
| received from all the governors and it was
found that few states had established
n legal admission day, but that none OF