The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-19
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Recollections of Old Mobile

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 The one hundredth anniversary of the battle of the Horseshoe Bend is to be celebrated. All honor to those who start ed this movement and labored and give to it's success. people who do not member and cherish the memory of their dead soldiers are certainly lacking in pa triotism and gratitude-now, do not get offended at the truth. The early settlers the pioneers of Alabama-lived a rough and hard life, often encountering perils and sometimes meeting death. but at times the sunshine would appear through the gloom and laughter and good cheer would ring through the forest In those days the marketing of the crops was d big problem Living far up the Coosa river near the Tennessee line lived gentleman who was expert in building and handling fatboats He had trained crew and would charge the farmers much a bale for cotton and had a fixed price for all other stuff The farmers passage was free Each party furnished his own food but had only one mess. These trips could only be made in the winter and springtime when the waters were high On some of the trips in passing over rapids and falls and through narrow channels, the boat and cargo would be lost, the crew clinging to the cotton bales, waiting an opportunity to catch a limb. On one of these trips a Scotchman had chartered the boat The trip to Mobile was made in safety Tying the craft at the wharf they put up town for business. Meeting a plain citizen. the man of Edinburgh said. "Sir, we have some fine fat young beef turkeys. ven l ison and other good things that we have h A Ia nrr1o ff, l sell to the citizens of Mobile.' Good, | good, he said, we are short of rations and you will have no trouble of dis l posing of what you have for sale. Do you see that house there--go there. walk l in through the wide door and you will see rope hanging down in the middle of the floor; pull that with all your might and the people will hurry there and buy you out" I wonder if that old fire bell | is there yet The cost was $10. but the 1 joke was so good that the mayor re- mitted the fine. A little joke on myself.
 When youth, in company with some | neighbor boys, we were dining at the
 Battle House Son the bill of fare was sheeps head. l had eaten of all parts
 of the sheep except the head and thought 1t strange thing that my family's old | Virginia cooks had never thought to cook the head. In giving the order for din-
 ner wrote on it sheep's head. I said I
 bring the sheep's head, and right before
 me in dish was whole sheep's head choice fish.
 Dear old Mobile. You have had great opportunities in the past and the coun- try has been surprised that you have
 moved so slowly. Bestir yourselves en-
 large, reach out and gather inl the wealth
 that your brain and muscle will bring
 you. Be good to yourselves, enrich the
 world, and in so doing. you will bless
 mankind. The lightning has struck the
 romantic Coosa and it's flashes are being
 sent over the country. for domestic and
 mechanical purposes The old fatboat is
 gone, and will not return, but the waters
 or the two great seas have sent you an
 invitation to come. and see where their
 waters joint together and embrace the
 opportunity of doing great things for your
 state. Younger men, you can. if you will
 make the effort. J. LAWLER DARBY.
 Birmingham, June IS. 1914.