The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-15

bigger. brighter beautifuler-and the rest
of adjeetives of similar import with which
am perfectly familiar. but whose elusive
names II is impossible to run down with
out the aid of a book of synonyms-than
ever. And strange part of it all is that
the shop-worn promise this year bids fair
to be fulfilled.
Mobile celebrated Arardi Gras long be-
fore New Orleans knew there was such an
animal. 1t is true that in the minds of
some illy-informed individuals the Cres-
cent City's carnival looms in a manner
that makes Mobiles efforts appear dispro-
portionate. But If such Is your idea, while
in Mobile don't even whisper it. Perhaps
the safest plan would be to not even think
of it. When in Mobile, do as Mobilians
do. Affect never to have heard that New
Orleans puts on a big show at about this
period every year.
Annually preparations for Mobiles car
nival are undertaken by an association
of business men. This year the general
chairman is Charles b. Hervey, active.
energetic and popular. The secretary is }.
Paul Wilson, one of the citys enterpris-
ing young business men. while w. b. Nc
Atee, as chairman of the finance commit
tee, acts as corlSscrew toward ordinarily
well-corlxed purses. To show you the kind
of man Mr.. McAtee is, II might be re-
marked that Mr.. McAtee has been able to
report progress at every meeting.
Mobile is known as the Mother of Mys-
tics. Though plans regarding the enter
tainments proposed 10y the various secret
societies are carefully guarded, enough is
known for one to prophesy without dan
ger of future retraction that there will be
no race suicide in the mystic line this
year.
To backwoodsmen like myself-and most
of the thousands of carnival visitors, like
myself, are backswoodsmen-the most in
teresting feature of Mardi Gras festivities
is the water pageant. Already 1t is as
sured that several naval vessels will be
anchored in the river during the carnival
period. Among these will be three de-
stroyers and the auxiliary cruiser Prairie,
the latter having a thousand more
marines aboard
A fiotilla of submarines will be in south
ern waters this month, and the general
committee hopes to be able to procure it's
presence here February 22-24. War ves-
sells of this kind have never been in this
port.
Hydroplanes will be demonstrated. and
there will he a number of races among
power boats, cutters and other speedy
craft. The commodious wharves which
| line the river front will give excellent
vantage ground for as many as care TO
| view the sport.
At night tho Gulf City will glitter and
| glow under an encrustation of incandes-
cents. 1.-THE Garden of Allah" will be the
| general theme of decoration and Bien-
| Vile Square, majestic ana historic, win
| be the center. An expert has devised a
| scheme whose fulfllment will astonish
and crafty. Sparkling fountains Will
| glisten and simmer with the colors of the
rainbow; counterfeit f1reflies will fit from
| hough to bough of ancient oaks. It's true
that I don't recall anything about oaks
| and fountains in Sahara, but / viii CON
| fess that it has been long time since
| / read Hichens' story of the love of DOM
| mi and Boris.
This is certainly historic old town
| Coming here from birmingham is about
| like switching from dress suit to overals
| This is not a knock. Remember I don't
specify which is the dress suit and which
| the overalls. Mobile was the home OF
| Father Ryan, sweet singer of the south
| His bones lie In tho Catholic cemetery
| here, and a statue, almost uncannily life
like, of the noted priest and patriot stands
in Ryan park Braxton Bragg. one of the
/ ehivalric chieftains of the Confederacy,
rests in Magnolia cemetery. Today / heard
! some talk of plans to bury here the polit-
ical ambitions of Braxton Bragg Conner,