The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-12

| one of stupendous commercial value and so the conditions had to change.
 The old leisurely ways have given way
 10 the hustle and rush and the placid lit-
 tie streams where the southern gentleman loved to thrash his hook and line now turns the wheel of industry or furnishes the power for the machinery which does. The servant problem closed many d fine old mansion and the dearth of good farm
 hands led many to sell their patrimuny. , Then the question of isolation played a
 part, for the men no longer dwelt about
 home and within call. They had to go
 into the world and provide for the family larder. There are still some hospitable mansions in which the owners pass a few months in summer and revive all
 the old traditions But everything Is after the same pattern as here, but little pie turesqueness to the fete Arriving in
 motors, having the same sort of service one would get in New York and possibly
 the same dinner patterned after the French ideal. The old nanny is de- funct institution Those who still await the call are too old for service and they have no successors.
 "We still claim to be unrivaled cooks in
 the south and the southern dinner can
 rate highly in the cuisine of the world. Still. the menu is liable to be sprinlled
 
 and the home dainties to give place to
 the modish fad of the moment. l am one who prefers the old way best. As a rule we exist on the good things which so pleased our fathers and mothers and the new fangled in cooking is regarded
 With suspicion in the genuine southern home, as something exceedingly disloyal.
 But I must confess that on occasions l join the long procession who take their orders from ParfS and depart from the way of my youth especially if we are to
 have guests. To my utter amazement
 l find some unreasonable beings do not
 relish hot bread and pone cake, or the glorious fried chicken and cream gravy dear to every southern palate.
 .'lt has been my good fortune 10 have travelled much and to have lived in many fascinating cities. l spent a long period In Paris truly the most beautiful city in the world and the one which offers the best opportunity for combined pleasure and benefit. l met some of the distin- guished savants of Paris, artists, authors, statesmen, and musicians and from my experience there. shall not fail to per init my daughter, If possible to enjoy the same advantages"
 As Miss Julia Wheeler, Mrs. Harris and her sisters spent the eight years with her father when he served in A1onsItSS, anu Sne was acIlNe Ill the philanthropies as we'll as socially She
 as gracefully taken up many of her 1idfpursuits in the congenial compan- ionship of old friends. She was always considered studious and formed one of group of southern girls who pos sessed intellectual attachments of high order. Mrs. Wheeler died just as her daughters were budding into wom- anhood and Mrs. Harris with her sis ters. filled the dual role of mother and daughter in her fathers home. Her devotion to her father is a ruling pas sion. She has gathered some valuable data concerning the different phases of his varied career. As a mere child she watched the growth of the historical writings which have fixed the fame of Gen. Joe" Wheeler as solidly in the war literature of his country as his achievements. After the civil war General Wheeler studied law and started to practice in hJs home county, Madison He also turned bis attention to cotton raising and incl dentally he continued his war mem- ories which began in 1862 with a pa- per which is now authoritative. "The Complete Account of the Kentucky He wrote about the same time a book called Cavalry Tactics and lastly his most serious effort, The History of Alabama"
 Mrs. Harris delights to tell of her father, his affection for the south so well displayed during the civil war and his undying love of his country. Never could he be persuaded to utter one word of regret over his broken career with the failure of the south.
 But" said Mrs. Harris, her whole face lighting with tenderness, "'when the war with Spain became inevitable. he was like boy long deprived of hat ha loved ha younger by 20 years, as it seemed. over night. He took down his swords, looked all over his stock of guns and became as restive as an unbroken pony. He confided to me and my sister that he had put a good face on things all these years but that out of the army he was bird flying with broken wing How happy he was preparing for the journey to Cuba. A boy with his first commission could not have been as enthusiastic. He renewed his youth entirely in the years he survived after the Spansh- American war, and the friendships formed then gave him pro- found enjoyment. Compared to the trag edies of the civil war, the war to aid Cuba was almost farce. But my fath- CT delighted to dwell on how well the work was done and how well pre- pared the officers and men were to do It. He took up his pen again after the commission which he had accept ed from President Mckinley had been faithfully executed and I think his latest work will prove his most en- during. Mr. Harris was his faithful aid during General Wheeler's declining days. He spent weary months on his history of Cuba from 1S46 to the inde- pendence, and in this his daughter was closely associated.
 The campaign of Santiago appeared when public feeling ran high and the country was torn from stem to stern over the rival claims of various admirals ond generals. It was ws.tten in scholarly. dis passionate language and is considered one