The story of the Katz family was interesting to the people of Cole.
Karl and Miriam were the children of the late Jacob and Cornelia Hart Katz, immigrants from Alsace Lorraine who moved to the Cole area from Mobile, Alabama, in the early 1900s. Jacob worked for Harris Bernheimer, said to be one of the wealthiest men in Mississippi, By the time Karl and Miriam were born, Jacob had purchased the two Bernheimer plantations, their big store, and Victorian house, said to be the largest in Cole.
Karl was an exceptional student, and graduated from high school at the age of 16. From there, he went to the University of Mississippi, and later received a Law degree from Ole Miss, as the historic school was nicknamed.
Miriam, some years younger, was a rather wild little girl. As she grew older, she possessed many qualities of her Jewish race: beautiful, jet black hair, and darkly tanned skin.
Miriam was very popular in high school, when she began smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes, a habit Karl had begun, earlier, with the Camel brand.
The Katz house, sitting right next to their store, became the gathering place for the youth of Cole.
Having friends and relatives in New Orleans, Cornelia sent Miriam to Sophie Newcombe College. Miriam didn't stay there long, however, and not long after returning home to Cole, she began dating Joesph Mayer, a handsome attendant at the Texaco gasoline station. Simply known to the residents of Cole as Joe, he wasn't quite what Cornelia had in mind as a husband for Miriam. Though Jewish, Joe's family lived far out in the country, and it wasn't until Joe began working at the "filling station," as everyone called the Texaco business, that he mingled with many of the townsfolk.
Joe and Miriam's courtship was, at times, stormy. Miriam, too, was eager both to meet Joe's expectations and those of her parents, who were not as warm to the idea of Miriam marrying Joe as Miriam would have liked.
Finally, though, Joe proposed.
Miriam, bluntly, put it this way to her parents: "Joe and I are going to elope. Would that be okay?"
Needless to say, that form of reverse psychology did the trick, and, several weeks later, Miriam and Joe were married in the grand hall of the Katz home.
After the ceremony, officiated by a rabbi from Baton Rouge, Joe charmed those present with many jokes and anecdotes.
"I didn't know whether or not the rabbi was going to use English or Hebrew!" Joe quipped to the champagne drinking guests gathered. "So, when he said, 'fore,' I thought he was going to throw some golf balls at me, so that's why I ducked!"
"Well," replied Katz neighbor, Meredith Sinser, "you better take care of Miriam right, or you'll be doing a lot of ducking!"
Following the ceremony and reception, Miriam and Joe departed for a homeymoon of several days in New Orleans, then returned to Cole, where they established residence in the Katz home. Joe left his job at Texaco, and began managing the Katz farm property.
During the first few years of marriage, Miriam would awaken at five thirty every morning, dress, cook breakfast for Joe, send him off to the farm, then continue serving breakfast to the others in the household as they were ready. Karl would go to his law office.
Jacob and Cornelia grew more frail with each passing day, and died within weeks of each other, not long before the birth of the only baby Miriam would ever have, Heidi Katz Mayer.
From that time to the present, Miriam was one of the most attractive and active ladies in Cole. She played bridge almost every week, helped Thomas in his office, and, with the help of her black maid, Essie Warfield, managed the big house.
Most evenings at the Katz home found Karl and the Mayer's sitting in front of the television, which they'd placed in the hall, smoking and enjoying the programs. As the years went by, heidi brought her friends home for weekends, and they always enjoyed the experience of visiting the impressive house and hearing the adults' humorous stories and witty, sometimes double entendre banter.
As it had been when Karl and Miriam were growing up, the Katz home remained the gathering place for everyone. Every time someone had a problem, they'd stop by and tell Karl, Miriam and Joe. The three of them all listened. After all, Joe got around the county every day in his truck--he knew what was going on. Karl was one of the four lawyers in Cole--he certainly knew what was going on from a business point of view, and his intelligence was respected. And Miriam--there she stayed--at that big house--some days, all day--working and enjoying her afternoon television serials (which she called "stories")--working and talking over the telephone. Yes, every time one visited the Katz house, there always seemed to be some sort of excitement!
Miriam was making coffee for her husband and brother when, through the kitchen door, in walked Jean Back, Heidi's best friend, daughter of Tipton ("Tippy") and Pamela Gable Back, friends of the Katz-Mayer family.
"Hi, Miriam," Jean greeted.
"Hello, Jean," Miriam, as usual, warmly greeted. "What's new with you?"
"Don't know any gossip," Jean replied. "Where's Heidi?"
"In her room, I think.," Miriam replied. "Go on up, and, for God's sake, don't turn on that record player too loud or Uncle Karl will have a fit!"
Jean laughed, and climbed the tall flight of steps up to Heidi's room, via the back hall.
"Hi, Heidi," Jean said.
"I've got some news for you!" Heidi said.
"I don't know who talks the most," Joe laughed, downstairs. "Is it Miriam or Heidi?"
Suddenly, footsteps were heard on the front porch. John Madison entered.
"Hello," John said. "I just thought I'd stop by for a few minutes."
"Hi, John," Karl welcomed.
"Everyone ready for some coffee?" Miriam asked. "It's served."
As they proceeded into the kitchen, Joe knew he and Miriam were in for what might be a lengthy legal talk--and, maybe, debate--between Karl and John.
