The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-15
Holdig Up Mail to Make Picture

Herbert Adams Gibbons, in Harper S
Magazine for October.
Backed up at right angles to the stoop
of the Cheval Blanc was a grandfather
omnibus, which certainly dated from the
third empire. It's sign read: "Grasse-St.
Cezaire. Service de la Poste." The can
vas boot had the curve of ocean waves.
A pert little hood stuck out over the
drivers seat. The lean pair of horses
one black, the other white-stood with
their noses turned toward the tramway
rails. The artist was still gazing sky
Ineward. 1 grasped his arm and brought
He fumbled for his pencil, but to our
horror the driver had mounted and was
reaching for the reins. l got across the
street just in time to save the picture.
Holding out cigars to the driver and a
soldier beside him on the box, 1 begged
them to wait-please to wait-just five
little minutes
There is no place for another passen-
ger. We are full inside" he remon-
strated.
But he had dropped the reins to strike
a match. In the moment thus gained
his hand.
Your coach. my friend I said lis
unique in all France. The coffee of that
celebrated artist yonder, sitting at the
terrace of the Golden Bar, is getting cold
while he immortalizes the Grasse-St Ce-
zaire service. l beg of you to delay your
departure 10 little minutes"
The soldier had found the cigar to his
liking "a quarter of an hour will do no
harm at ALL, he announced positively,
getting down from his place.
The driver puffed and growled. eve
have our journey to make, and the hour
of departure is 80 If it is not too long
is minutes at the most" He pocketed
the frame less reluctantly than he had
spoken.
Soon an old dame, wearing a bonnet
that antedated the coach, stuck out her
head A watch in her hand Surely she
was not of the Midi! Fearing that she
might Influence the driver disadvantage
ously to our interests. | went to inform
her that the delay was unavoidable.
could not offer her cigar. There are
never any bonbons in my pocket. So
thought to make speech.
"All my excuses" explained, for
this regrettable delay. The coach In
which you are seated-and in which in a
very very few minutes you VIII ne rid
ing-belongs to the generation before
yourself and me. 1t is important Tor the
sake of history as well as art that the
presence in Grasse of my illustrious artist
friend, ooincident with the St. Cezalre
coach before the door of the Cheval
Blanc be seized upon to secure for our
grandchildren an >indelible memory OF
travel conditions in our day. So 1 beg
your indulfience."
The schoolgirls smothered a smoker
There was a dangerous glitter in the old
DANES eve. She did not answer me, but
a young woman raised her voice in
threat to have the driver dismissed B-'
enough time had been gained. The artist
signified his willingness to have the mail
leave now for St. Cezaire.
Off went the coach, white horse and
black horse Gathering alternately hoofs
that would gladly have remained longer
in repose The soldier saluted. The
driver grinned We waved to the old
woman who appeared at the coach door
for the first time in order that they
might glare at US, l am afraid 1 must
record that it was to glare. Our friendly
salutation was not answered. But we
had the sketch. That is what really mat
tered.
The average weight of the hogs re-
ceived at Chicago was 219 pounds during
1915 and 231 in 1914 The corresponding
averages at Kansas City were 200 and
1871, respectivelv.