The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
CHRISTMAS DAY
SIXTY YEARS AGO
History and Philosophy Dealt
With in Rhyme.
AN OLD TIME EDITORS WIT
Christmas Greeting of Newspaper Car
riers nlS37-Salient Facts in
American Life When Van
Buren, Was President

is national history III verse. II io.4onS.
Good morning, kind patrons, walk forth
today,
of my poetic talents to make a display,
To tell you, forsooth, the signs OF the
tines
In sweet, flowing numbers-or juggling
rhymes.
The year has gone BY "a solmen refiec-
tions.)
And the people have had bread in eg'ry d.
rection;
And though we've heard rumors of times
very tough,
We tIaank our Great Father we've all had
enough.
About the dark future I've no prophets
ken,
Nor will I predict about Measures or
men,"
But some things right here I beg leave to
About our whole country's condition and
state.
In political matters I'm not very knowing
Yet in these, my good friend, trust am
growing.
In proof of this hear--but L need not now
tell,
How Polk knocked out the clapper of Ten
nessee's bell.
You must also remember since my vinsit
last year,
We've got a new man in the presidents
chair
A man for the people-saout huzza! for
He's sturdy New Yorker, a real demo-
GRAFT
Against him was run the odds and the
ends
OF parties as opposite as foes are to
friends.
To prove in this matter that I'm in the
right,
Just think of the league tween Harrison
and White.
But the people discovered the design and
the trick,
And voted for Van and kentuckys own
Dick.
Our Wings are ali happy as pigs in
stye-
I'm right glad of that-they've had long
time 10 cry:
But their glorying, they'll find. was a pre-
nature work,
Although they've the victory so snug in
New York:
For full time it will be, about which to
bray,
When they elect Danny Webster or else
Henry Clay.
Our wise men are awake to internal i'm
provement,
And this grand subject are making a
movement
Thatll shortly transport us from the north
to the south.
And Well carry the news by word of the
mouth.
Well take a hot breakfast in farn'd old
Kentucky,
And our supper in Knoxville. if anyways
And if not too weary to keep up the mo-
ton,
By daylight next morning we'll gaze on the
ocean.
We come now to talk of affairs here in
Frow high down to low-the genteel and
clown
And had the time, and you in the notion,
I'd never stop talking till I'd give each his
portion;
But youth of my talents had better for
bear
For this give me credit-such virtue is rare!
The year has gone by without many disas-
tiers,
Unless we may reckon the plague of "shin
plasters"
An evil as hateful as the failure in crops
They're the terror and death of Benton's
mint drops.
OF prevailing diseases we would mention
the mumps,
Though not so contagious as that of the
humps,
Nor yet quite SO sure to bring life to an end
AS folly's last effort-the famd Grecian
bend.
Our town in improvements is daily advanc-
ing,
And property and produce in value en-
hancing;
We've a college and school, Masonic hall;
We've preaching and teaching-success to
them all!
rnr to t1,a
evil;
So. to save your poor souls, give 1t to the
Devil.
About little matters you need not be care
full
Just hand me "suskin''-it makes me so
cheerful!
The reference to Measures or Men" will
be appreciated by all students of our
political history. 1t is as historic as that
old-time phrase manifest destiny" The
president. sturdy New Yorker. real
democrat" was Martin Van Buren,. Ken
tucky's own Dick" was Richard NJ john
son. Just then the question of internal
Improvement first came to be an issue in
national politics. In recent years a success
sor of Van Buren,, democrat. vetoed a
river and harbor bill that called for more
than $4,000, goo; and such bin has been
passed since which appropriated a sum not
far from being equal to the entire cost of
the government sixty-two years. ago; and
one railroad has awed the government ex-
exceeding 800 100000. AS to internal i'm
provements," Mr.. Ferguson-wrote with the
gift of prophecy. "we'l1 take a hot break
fast, In fam'd old Kentucky. and our cup
per in Knoxville If any ways lucky" and
Nit.
railroad deye.opnent of the country. 1.-THE