Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-20

why people do not take more interest
IN their ancestors, forgetting that but a
few months ago he did not know whether
the battle of Princeton occurred in New
Jersey or In illinois.
Finally some one who hears him talk
about John Stuffs feats of arms sug-
gests that he ought to join one OF the so
cIetfes composed of descendants of rev
olutionary soldiers. How to go about 10
get upon the scent of the right method.
After numerous inquiries he is given the
address of a secretary of such an organ
ization as he seeks to enter. Upon writ
Ing him he receives two imposing papers,
in the blank spaces of which he is to
make his genealogical entries in dupli-
cate. He begins to fill out this paper,
giving full name and address. Then ne
records the names of his father and moth
er and their residence; then he writes
down the names of his grandparents;
then with a firm hand he sets down the
name of John Stuff and records the fact
that he was a man of war.
AS he reads further ne notes that he Is
required to give proof of his statements
Why, certainly, he knows all about that;
that is what he has been doing this long
time-hunting up proofs. But the paper
states that a county history is not ac-
cepted as proof; SO that is ruled out
But what about state histories? The
trouble Is that John is not mentioned in
that book Just so; we'll, let us see. Yes,
to be sure, there are the colonial records
and the letter from the state librarian.
Yes, they will d. So the references to
volume and page are made and the doc
uments are ready to be sworn to before
a notary.
But what Is this? The papers state
that the applicant must procure the sig
natures of two persons already members
of the society, certifying to character and
recommending him as BILE member.
Then 1t occurs to him that he does not
know any such persons. However, he
has learned that there is nothing like in
vestigat ton, for he has already fshed up
a great many facts that seemed to be
lost. Therefore, he procures catalogue
of-the society, and runs over the list OF
names, checking off the ones with which
he is familiar. He discovers that there
are several men whom he knows, and
who, no doubt. will gladly sign the pa
pers. As he reads on down to the IS, he
is struck by the fact that there seems
something familiar about one of the
names. Why bless you, there 1t is,
Stuff" John Stuff" He is a cousin to
whom he had forgotten to write. He had
been a member of the society for several
years; and he had done all this Investigate
ting years before! :
Then he hunts up his cousin, and asks
him to sign the documents, and get a
friend to do the same, and presently he is
full-fledged member. One day at BAN
quet he turns to his Cousin with the re-
mark. John, was it not an awful amount
of trouble to hunt up this ancestor of
ours?" mo" said John. Il did not have
any trouble" "What did you do?" "Oh,
just paid a! man 500 to look up the facts
for me. He was an expert in such
things" Then the new member sat back
to mediate. But later, when the speech
making was under way. John leaned over
| to him, and asked, Where did that bat
| tie take place that he is talking about?
do not know anything about these mat
ters." 1t was then the new member
drew himself up proudly. and whispered
a long account of the fight, with an in
ward sense that there were some advant-
ages in this method of hunting up an an
cestor.