The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-18
By MIGNON HALL

ling and the Reckling horse.
 By MIGNON HALL
 You have been away from Brming- ham and your train is just pulling in. You grab your grip, dash down the steps, push past the throngs in the depot, and are at home again in dear old Birmingham.
 Gee, there isn't any place likt 1t! You'd love it because there are al- ways little things you grew up with just waiting to say hello" to you from every angle of your perspective. There's the old hotel, and Mikes rgrub house." and look at the fami- liar face of that conductor who used to run the street car 10 years ago on the South Bessemer linel
 Tucked away in their memories. most all citizens cherish such little things that make Birmingham dif- ferent to them from any spot on earth. Many times they are things concerned with their own neighbor hoods. But there are several land marks of city wide interest that all ways will belong to all the people alike.
 
 cupy in all hearts that, were they gone Birmingham would lack some thing of her ability to make one laugh, or sigh, or stand thoughtful, or carry one back to childhood and the memory of thousand thrills.
 Familiar Things
 One is a stone wall that Hanks the home of Mir. and Mrs. Jack Bowron at the end of Twentieth street. May be the builders never knew what a mecca of rest, of romance, they had erected, but almost everybody has in some manner enjoyed its hospi- ta1ity. Flat topped and inviting winter and summer, the wall has been recreation spot for thousands of citizens, poor and rich, happy or sad
 Long before the Edg car line was built, it furnished a middle ground of rest for those living across Red mountain. Tired washerwomen rested their bundles there; pickanin- nies played marbles in its shadow. Small boys and girls on their way from school never had such pure de- light as when on the top of it, they were, in fancy, riding a. big steam ship far away to fairyland. It was more delightful when kindly-Ayed, faced old gentleman with the whitest beard came by to pat their heads. Some of them know he was MT. Bowron, and that he owned all the big trees and the house surround ed by the wall But some of them did not Nobody was driven away. old men and beggars have left their grateful blessing upon the wall, it's owners, the fragrant magnolia; and a honeysuckle vine that climbs to %L of fre hack farther in the yard.
 e It Would Be Missed
 If the wall was gone or changed, Birmingham wouldn't seem like it. self, any more than it would if ex- Governor Corners residence were suddenly torn from the spot to which it's quaint architecture has lent, it's individuality all these years.
 Fancy the governors sunflowers gone, and the corn. Was that gourd vine or a watermelon vine in his garden? How many hundreds have stood up on the Bowron wall to as- certain. And how fancy has been quickened to see there was develop ing an actual green melon as large as your head.
 Twentieth street would be sad without these little things each year.
 RecklInG's Horse
 | shall whisk you away now ana set you before something that will make you laugh.
 It's William Reckling's old black horse! On his wheel platform, he still does duty as "ridey-horse" for the delight of every passing child. Be- cause one horse, even wooden one. could not stand too long the weather and the wear and tear of playfellows hands, MT. Reckling has had to buy two. The first he bought 40 years ago, and old Dobbin, who proudly stands in front of the Third avenue harness store, is replica of the first Dobbin. This last one has been watch ing the doings of Birmingham Tor the last 25 years. A jaunty hat cooked over the spot where he used to have ears, he stands only to advertise his masters business, but to be ridden fast and hard by every bunch of boys with a little time to spare and nerve enought to ride a steed with iron hoofs and a paper body.
 .'Giddap!' they chuck. and seize his -mane and spur him on to dashiI.g efforts Those who cannot get ,r, null his tail and shriek lusty com mands warning the riders to ho.d tight.
 They call Dobbin every name unuer the sun; they pat him; they pet him, and the old horse responds by ho,d- ing himself erect. head up, his eyes fixed ahead, so that whatever he is urged to take, whether a fence, a ditch. mire, or a turbulent river, he can cross it. swift and strong. nor ever fail the hopes of his dashins cavaliers. You've ridden him, haven't you? Chalmers Moore and Alex Dear born have and Sid Lee never felt the day was complete without a trip to see him.
 But maybe it was your own little boy who rode. Anyhow, without a trip through topsy-turvy town on ;he Reckling hobby horse, yours has been a dull life indeed. The horse seems so actually real that once, two girls seeing him being pulled hur- riedly into the store by J. K. Patter- son, thought he was wild and un- trustworthy brute, and picked up their little feet in mad scramble to get out of danger.
 Halloween Tricks
 Halloween tricks are played on Dobbins; signs of Hello Bill and tin cans are tied upon him. and +o times a day men come by and say that horse was the first thing they ever saw in Birmingham. Residents in shining automobiles purpose to