The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-26

plane.
From For Days and Days." by
Annette Wynne.
Concerning the Typewriter
This week, Thanksgiving week
is the time set aside by the Bust
ness and Professional Women's as
sociation for the campaign for
funds for the John Jonathan Pratt
memorial.
Which means scholarship fund
for the boys and girls of Alabama,
who want to take business course
and perfect themselves for business
or professional career.
Which reminds me that | had the
chance few days ago through
Birmingham's valued citizen, Mr.
Henry R. Howe. of seeing one of
the old-fashioned Hammond" type
writers-the invention of Ala
bama's genius, Mr.. Pratt.
In Mr.. Howze's law offices. the
old-fashioned typewriter makes its
home; it's queer looking little ar
angement-with its circular key
board and its funny little "Strain-
err; at least that's what | called it
and Mr.. Howe corrected me, tell
ing me that it was the receptacle
for the paper, which as one writes
upon it, is folded up and kept in the
little basket arrangement until it is
ready to be taken out.
1.-THE first John Jonathan Pratt
typewriter / ever saw was the one
owned by Capt. John White, Alger-
non w. Nelson's stepfather," said
Mr.. Howe. Captain White was
very proud of his possession; that
was 80 years ago, ! believe, and it
was on this typewriter that |
learned to write.
"The one | own now ! bought
shortly afterward and / wouldn't
take anything in the world for it. 1t
works just as we'll today as it did 25
or 80 years ago, when / purchased
it, and I shall always keep it as
treasured possession
Now then, three cheers for Ala
bama and Birmingham; an Ala
bamian, John Jonathan Pratt, ia
vented the typewriter; his beloved
niece, Mrs. R. B. Smyer, the daugh-
ter of his only brother, lives in Bir-
mingham; and Mr.. Henry r. Howe
owns one of his earliest inventions.
1t is a very fitting tribute to the
memory of the man who invented
what | have been pleased to term
'The business wonan's best friend
the typewriter" that the Business
and Professional Women's associa-
ton should establish a fund for
scholarships for ambitious boys and
girls of this state.
But then it's just like those won
derful splendid, fine, young women
who compose the personnel" of this
association to do just such grace
full thing; they never do any thing
| elsei
"I've Been to London to See the
Queen"
And speaking of the Business and
Professional Women's association
do you remember when this pro-
gressive organization invited Mrs.
B. Frank Mebane of Spray, N. c.,
to deliver; lecture here the past
season?
And how Mrs. Mebane like Caesar
''came, saw, and conquered?'
Well this accomplished southern
woman is now having her photo
graph flashed from all the cameras
over the world as the guest of the
Queen of Roumania, if you please.
Mrs. Mebane with her friend Mrs.
Kemble White of Fairmont, W. Va,
was royalty entertained and dined
to the "Queen's taste" during
wonderful visit.
1f - t,hu a
minds me of sucn clever little
story heard.
1t seems that the ambitious Queen
had in mind for her daughter the
Queen Of Serbia an alliance with the
handsome Prince of Wales. She had
definitely set her heart upon it.
Now it also seems that the Queen
of Serbia is anything but slender;
her large ankles, and tremendous
avoirdupois, her claim to "fair. fat
and twenty" did not quite appeal
to His Majesty, the fastidious Prince
of Wales, so upon seeing the Queen
of Serbia for the first time and
having been told of the ambitious
mothers plans, the Prince observed:
.sOh yes, she's a very pretty girl.
but, my word, what lot of her!'
Lady Nancy Aston
And speaking of kings and queens
and things, isn't it lovely that
Americas clever and adored Nancy
Astor. Just walked away with the
bacon" over in England politically
where her wit and her cleverness
have placed her far and away,
ahead of everything else feminine!
| think one of the incest stories
I ever heard about Nancy Aston was
in regard to the late King Edward
VII; her daring wit and humor at
tracted King Edward tremendously
because he did adore a "bon mot
above all things-and at party
one evening when Lady Astor-al-
though she wasn't an Aston at all
then-but somebody else; maybe
Mrs. Bobby Shaw, or somebody; His
Majesty said:
won't you join us in game of
cards?"
"Oh. dear me. no. Your Majesty
I don't play cards." said she.
"Don't play cards?" echoed the
King.
mo. Your Majesty said the
wicked little American wit, II don't
know one card from the other; in
| fact, until / met Your Majesty !
didn't know 4 Knave from King"
| Beautiful Charlotte Walker
Beautiful Charlotte Walker who
used to live in Galveston, Tex. one
Of the brilliant galaxy of southern
beauties who has made name and
fame for herself on the stage, is to