Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-18
Old-Time Books
Doerun, Colquit County Ga.
IN 1901

October 10, 1921.
Mrs. w. H. FELTON,,
Gainesville, Ga:
Pardon me for trespassing on your
time. am great lover of old
| time" books, such as "Parleys
Tales" etc. I am seeking ''Worcest-
er's Second Reader" or more proper
| 1y, "Worcester's Second Book for
! Reading and Spelling Also "Grigg
or Elliotts Third Reader" These
books were used in the schools when
I was a boy, fifty years ago. AS
you lived in years gone by, thought
| perhaps you might give me some
| information in regard to them. Have
| you ever seen them? Or can you tell
| Strange request, but kindly write,
your unacquainted friend, N. N. M.
I quite agree with my correspon-
dent about the books we were ia
niliar with fifty and sixty years
ago.
In my days the books written by
Grace Aquiiar were perfectly de-
De reprinted and put on the market
again. The home life that was ex-
nibted in her wonderful novels
would be so fine and so far beyond
the sensational story Of the pres
emit time.
might be found in old book stores
and in other large Georgia cities,
and l would advise my correspondent
to get in touch in SUCH localities and
have these old book stores searched
for what is wanted. have passed
these old book stands frequently in
Atlanta, but / have generally been
hurried and could not give the proper
| inspection for myself.
l have full set Of Jane Austen's
novels, written nearly 100 years ago,
and they are delightful to me at this
time, when l get hungry for some
thing good to read, and enjoy heart
lily. The sensational and suggestive
literature that is popular noW---and
not good for growing boys and girls
lit is too sexual and entirely too
full of passion to be healthy for
ago careful parents would not have
allowed them within the reach of
their children.
The old National Hotel
After my article concerning the
notable hotel in Washington City
by mail from Washington the story
of the fire and tragic incidents con-
nected with the conflagration.
Doubtless some of the people who
conducted the hotel who have been
acquainted with me for years sent
sured that l would appreciate the
attention, which, of course, 1 did.
There were 800 guests in the house
that Hateful night, and two were
burned to death in their rooms. Thir-
ty odd were injured and a great
number lost everything they had ex-
cept the nightclothes in which they
escaped from the burning building
There were five stories to the hotel
proper. The lower part of the build
ing was mostly occupied by clothing
stores, drug stores, railroad offices,
etc. =
The blaze was first seen on the
third floor, and the people who were
above the fire were most endangered
With my husband and little boy
we spent six winters in the hotel in
70s and during the long session of
mer.
Hon. Alex Stephens always had
rooms there, after the Civil war, and
always the hame rooms, as the pro-
prietors were glad to have him, and
he had any amount of company
visitors, friend and distinguished
eonrf %sfe Je9 beTe
Judge Davis, of Illinois, and Judge
Clifford, of Maine. Judge Davis was
appointed by President Lincoln, and
the judge from Maine, by President
Buchanan. Judge Clifford was al
ways a militant Democrat, always
ready to confess the faith that was
in him. He was member of the
famous electrical commission, and al
ways contended that Lincoln should
have been counted in. The hotel had
gas lights Git was before the time
of electric lights), and Judge Cliff
ford was too averse to gas lights,
so he had to have fine wax candles
to read and write by in the eve
nings. Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Cliff
ford were extremely kind to the
Georgia woman, and ] was in their
parlors very frequently. The presi
dent aof the senate, Mr.. Ferry, al.
ways roomed there, and there were
congressman and senators galore.
The hotel was leased by a New
Hampshire man and forceful figure
in the city of Washington. The ia
BILE was super-excellent. A. great
many people in official life, who
roomed elsewhere were glad to get
their meals there. AS Mr.. Tenney
used to say-"its the table that holds
this fine. crowd. We get the best
the market affortts--in abundance
and everything that people delight
in eating, we are determined to have.
The beds were splendid, and every
thing was Immediately clean. We