The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-28

horses, mules and oxen are tied and be-
fore each is a bundle or two of fodder
which the animals are munchdng
Ilhs first thing to attract the attention
OF a stranger Is the horse swapping ring.
There you find the ehreWd dealer with
a lot of old broken down horses or mules,
which have been doctored and curried
up, to palm off on some unsuspsi-ting
countryman There you find the farm
ers with their horses and mules, ready
TO make swap when they think they see
better animal for which they can swap.
This animals are always tr4sd under sad
ole, and then the two parties get together
ana endeaXor ito reach an agres nnent.
Such boot" as plows, carts so many
gallons of VIII sky, a still, and OCCASION
any money, is given to effect a trade
sometimes a man owns as many az, a
dozen horses or mules in a day He
keeps on swapping, just like a Spectator
Keeps on buying and selling stocks, ull-
TIL evening, whsm he finds that he either
mas good mule fcr the old one he
brought to town in the morning, or else
nnds himself with an animal on his
hands that IS completely worthless. But
he never acknowledges to being worsted
in a trade.
1 saw one shrewd young mountaineer
come in town in the morning with an old
squirrel rifle, and go home in the after-
noon with fairly good mule-the result
of repeated swaps. He first snapped the
rifle for an old blind mule. Then he
snapped that mule for a young one with
a badly crippled leg. He snapped that
one for another blind IN one eye and with
many raw places on him where the
harness had rubbed and made him
worthless for a. month or more. That
one he snapped for another, and so on
until he got up 10 vigorous mlddle-aged
mule that happened to be vSry light
with his hind legs, but with no other
fault With this he was satisfied and
went home rejoicing.
Everyt,ma a swap is effected the intsr-
-eEted parties take a drink together, and
these who swap during the day naturally
get in a fighting humor towards evening.
These young mountafneers are natural
fighters, and when filled With mean
whisky here is no way of stopping them.
But tfsy never use knives or firearms in
fighting among themselves. Their fights
ara always square and the only weapons
are natural fists, or occasionally sticks
and rocks When only two men are en-
gagged, fists are invariably used. ming
is formed around them, and they are al
lowed to fight it out until one or the 9TH
er cries enough. After the fight they
come as friendly again as they ever
were.
The court house is usually structure
of rough stones and mortar, two stories
in height The upper floor is used as
court room. The judge sits at rough
desk at one end of the room. The law
yers are at tables in front and back of
them, to the rear wall, are rows Of rough
board benches filed with countrymen
who sit and listen but are engaged prln-
.cipally in chewing tobacco. The sheriff
and bailiffs engage this mselves in mixing
with the crowds, making friends, and in
crying from the windows the names of
witnesses wanted to appear before the
court. All required of a witness is that
he be in town. When he is wanted tho
sheriff cries his name out of the window
loud enough to be heard all over the
town. Then he hurries to thsl court,
and afterwards returns to the horse
swapping ring.
This most unique parsonage around a
country court house Is the native law
yer He IS usually long, lean, gawky
fellow, of about the vintage of 81, with a
broadcloth suit long worn slick and