The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-22

| the ancient piano, the gentleman who ! says nothing, and the travelling man who visits his wife every week? Can you find l this delightful company anywhere but in
 our supreme American boarding house? We think not.
 l There we find the high and low, the good and bad, every age, every thought and feligion-perhaps the Mohammedans excluded. The round table of La Pen sion" has King Arthur's institution whipped a mile!
 ] Fate has curious way of concentrat- 1 ing this delightful company into happy colony and calling it a boarding house ] These are types. They are varied and in teresting. But what may be considered more attractive is the conversat ton, the sorrows and joys, of this delightful com pany It is conversation that lifts up like chorus above the steaming soup plate and butter dishes, until ones thoughts are drowned like an innocent kitten History, religion, fashion, poli- | tics, scandal, love at first sight, the plum bers, and the movies receive their share of attention.
 Poor King Arthur. What boobs his knights would have been had they con- tinued to flourish perpetually.
 So we come to our round table and hear the bald-headed man with the green necktie and pearl colored waistcoat speak of the weather, as he makes wild. grab for the butter dish. The bald headed man. no doubt, has been a knight for 16 years. He can tell you everything that ever happened In the old town since Hector was a young dog.
 A peaked faced young lawyer sits near by. His pale blue eyes are full of con tracts and corporeal hereditaments. His ebulltions are refreshing. He radiates observations on life painted in legal splendor. One can almost see the ermine of justices robes. He vocaEzes law, tells of the little home village down state, and 1 the young women he knows. He is well
 versed-in the latter.
 l A famshed looking, thin woman faces
 Blackstone's deciple at the round table. She is wistful, if anything, but occa-
 sionally smiles with an effort. She ex-
 poets her husband back next Saturday.
 Poor fellow, he travels-probably for his
 health.
 1 Two little school teacners-wi -winsome and
 smiling-half giggling. tell of their days
 work They remind you of little birds
 at play. Their laughter is like music.
 But they hit a snag sometimes. when their l tongues begin to wag about some &C.,
 quaintance they don't like. All women
 are alike.
 A young woman stenographer, wearing
  l help of cold slaw with fork. She is ab-
 stracted. It would be foolish to establish
 definitely the thoughts that might be
 running through her head.
 l Near the far end of the round table is
 sad, meek looking old man, with white hair He keeps on saying nothing. He eats his soup in timid apologetic man.
 ner. Life has slipped by him, having patted him playfully on the back in pass | ing. But if you would know his history, the little sharp-nosed woman. just oppo- site. who is spping her coffee with the little finger stuck out can tell you. She knows all about him. She knows all about everybody. She is an old maid Near her sits the fat gentleman with the large stomach, upon which he rests, caressingly, two chubby hands. inter locked affectionately. What picture! One Is forced to wonder how he escaped being bank president. However, your doubts may be removed after consulta- ton with the little sharp nosed person. She can tell you how Mir. Podge went through several fortunes in his youth. What pity. you are prompted to think. And you look at the little fat man twice. At small side table, you see pale little woman with two small children. She Is waiting word from 8 husband who has changed his place of business. Poor fellow he was sent to some town like Pratt City by the company. The little woman has been studying timetables and telling her friends the wonderful poss- bilities in the new home Any moment she must pack up and leave, tear herself away from old friends and associates. This is a sad world, you think. The grouch is shock to your aesthetic sense, when he looks up from his egg cup with snarl. His eggs must be cooked just so so. You read at once the pessimist, the cynic. He Is a student Of newspapers and current events. He knows everything; but his knowledge is favored with unpleasantness, harshness-words of vinegar and hopelessness. There is some sad history connected with him. you may think But the little sharp-nosed woman can set you straight The grouch was born that way she will tell you. Imagine man who enjoys nails for breakfast and kills little children with sledge ham mers while they sleep! You have a fair picture of the grouch.
 You may look up from your cabbage to see an old white-haired lady approaching the round table. She is a cripple. What memories come to you. She is a half pie ture of your own grandmother Per haps she is the last of big tribe: now alone, forgotten, imprisoned in a little days. Who is the small gray-haired woman with her? She is the old lady's companion" the sharp-nosed person tells you They've been together for 20 years The old lady will see the thing through as member of the round table.
 And the landladyc We cannot over look her indulgent, sweet soul. You see her moving in and out around and about here and there, among the subjects of her little colony. She wears wstful smile a look of patience and resignation. But you see in the lines about Her mouth and forehead, the inevitable signs of care. She is not in the business for pleasure
 The sharp nosed little person can tell you her history, too. There are four grown boys, she will tell you. One is a blessing to his mother. Another is a pleasure. Two are doubtful. The mother knows La Pension" is not her only anxiety.
 But the little 1e-year-old daughter is the pride of the round table. She is the fairest flower of the garden of Joys and Sorrows With her youth and sweetness, she looks into the face of life with wonder