The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-05
SKETCHES FROM
EVERYDAY LIFE

President Mckinley is considered by
many as the shrewdest politician in the
country. One evidence of this is what might
be called his ability as "snuffer out" He
possesses a genius in getting rid of OPP
position and snuffng out the light of his
opponent.
At the breaking out of the spanish war
there was a great deal said of Fitzhugh
Lee. He was a popular hero, and hailed as
the next Vice President. His constituents.
however, did not count on Mckinley. who
threw a robe of some office around him and
hid him from view Today, he is forgotten.
A little later came the battle of San Juan,
and Joe Wheeler became the popular hero
nothing was too good for him He was Con-
gresham and general at the same time, and
was hailed by the -worshippers as the
next Vice President. Wheeler hac done so
well at San Juan that he wanted a chance
at the Philippines. This was McKinley,s
chance, however and General Wheeler was
sent to some obscure island, where he had
nothing to do. Today he is hidden away
in an army post at Chicago.
Then came tie Dewey craze. 1t looked
at one time If the whole country would
be given to him with the office of President
thrown in. Today his name is ever men,
toned. Mckinley gave him shore leave and
rope enough to hang himself with, which
Dewey lost no time In using.
McKinley's ceverest and latest snuffing
Is putting that rough and unruly Roose-
welt, who promised to give him trouble, in
the Vice Presidential grave to be- If he
either succeeds or fails in reaching it there
will be no more heard of Teddy.
The Presidential campaign so far this
year has been extremely apathetic. The Re-
publicans have been taking it easy, assum-
ing McKinleys reelection a forgone con-
olusion Then with Mark Hanna to do
things, Of what use to worry? The Demo-
Gratis have shown little more life, but
still the campaign has exhibited a drowsy
condition like the atmosphere of a country
store.
A recent bet made by Mr.. Richard Croker
On Bryan has startled everyone. He bet
$4,000 against $4,000 put up on Mckinley for
Mr.. Wormster. AS Mr.. Croker is one of the
most remarkably successful men in politics
the world has even seen, his bet on Bryan
means something. 1t means that Bryan, In
Mr.. Croker's opinion, is winner. AS the
old lady wisely said, we shall see what we
shall see.
1t is hard to realize in this land of plen-
ty, the frightful condition of the people of
India Think of 100000 people having died
of starvation, and 100000 at one time be-
Ing without crumb to eat. In this rich
and fertile land of America, if a single per-
son starves to death, the newspapers are
full of it. and the public filed with horror.
at in Ind 5,,t,
by thousands, dying by inches, wasting
away until she soul and body from sheer
weakness can no longer hold together. And
from all these thousands dying silently
there Is no murmur no complaint. Misery
learns in time to take the DEGREES of fate
without appeal
But the charitable of other lands have ap-
pealed for them, and the Christian Herald,
Bible House, New York, will receive and
forward all sums sent for their relief.
Should Charles Egbert Craddock shortly
revisit the Great Smoky Mountains she
will find there new kind of prophet, which
would possibly furnish material for a new
story. She must hurry, however, or the
police may arrive first. This prophet, from
an account in the Chattanooga Times, be-
longs 10 u sect OF HOLY dancers, which
exists among the ignorant mountaineers of
the Great Smokes. They believe the end
of the world is at hand, and that they can
not sin. So they are plsying cards and doing
all kinds of improper things. They torment
the sick, force them to join in the "holy
Dance" which they have at all hours of
the day and night and acting on vision
of the prophet were about to kill their chill
dren as useless, when some of their neigh
bors stopped this human sacrifice and burnt
one of their churches.
The ignorance of some of these noun
taineers is appalling. In some of the noun
tains can be found little scattered COM
munities, where the people have lived iso-
lated for generations, marrying and inter-
marrying among themselves, for years, I'M
til race of degenerates and idiots Is pro-
duced.
1t is pitful to see these people, but hav-
Ing seen them, one can understand how
they are capable of any piece of folly aris-
ing from ignorance.
SEPTEMBER IN TENNESSEE