The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-07

IN the early winter 1870, returning
from rather lengthy sojourn IN
the Buckeye state. where hoosier IS
scrutinized as critically as a splinter IN
the thumb Of a near-sighted man, |
mentally resolved that just as soon as
the lazy engine dragging me toward
home had pol1ed its smutty nose into the
sclvedge of my native state l would dis
embark, lift my voice. and shout Tor JOY
for being safely delivered out Of a land
Of perpetual strangers.
This opportunity was afforded me at
Union cfty-a fussy old-hen-of-a-town,
forvever cIlAeking over its little brood Of
railroads as though worried to see them
running over the line. and oristhng Win
the Importance OF its charge.
The place is not an attractive one
stennine from the train In the early dusk
Of n December evening; In fact the I'M
mediate view of the town Is almost en-
tirelv concealed by a big square-faced
hotel standing. as It were, on the very
platform. as though its runners were
behind time, and 1t had come down TO
solicit its own custom. A walk OF Sixty
steps however, gave me sweeping view
of the main business street of the city;
ana here 1t was, by one of those rare
freaks of circumstance, that | suddenly
found myself standing face to face with
an old friend. Smith said l. Cor
rectir said he, and all lacking to COM
plete the tableau was the red light. And
now. as my story has more to do with
a more remarkable man thah either
Smith or myself, shall hasten TO that
notable-only introducing humber per-
sonages as necessity demands.
That night was a Dragging, clustering
buIlvine SORT of a night The wind was
mad--starlk staring mad; running over
and around the town, bowling ana
vhooping like a maniac. 1t whiried ana
whizzed and wheeled about and whizzed
again. It pelted the pedestrians race
with dust that stung like sleet IL
wrenchod at the signs, and wrattled the
door and windows till the lights inside
shivered as with alright. The unfurled
awnings fiuttered and tapped over the
deserted streets like monstrous bats or
birds of prey; and, gritting their IRON
teeth. the shutters 1unged and snapped
at their fastenings convulsively. Such
night as we like to hide away from, and
with a good cigar a good friend, and
good fire. talk of soothing things ana
dream. NY friend and l were not so
isolated. however, upon this OCCASION
driven us. for shelter, into "Bowers's
Emporium;" and, seated in the rear OF
the snaeious and brightly Illuminated
store we might almost dream We dwelt
in, marble halls" were it not for the
rather profuse display OF mercnanolse
and a voluminous complement OF SNOW
cards reading Bargains in Overcoats
"Best and Cheapest Underwear" Buy
Bowers's Bootsl cts
The clerks were all idle and employing
their leisure in listening to a 'hne-art
conversation. cae al introduced by my
friend remarEi-'' extraordinary ue-
velonment Of III, ,l5t and limbs of a
danseuse on paper collar-box and az
ter deploring the prostitution to whleh
real talent was subjected, and satirizing
the general degeneracy of modern art,
he had drifted back to the rare old days
If Hans Holbein, Albert Durer, and that
guild And while dwelling enthusiastic
nllv upon the genius of Angelo, became
aware that among the listeners was a
rcmarkahle man. It was not his figure
that impressed me, for that was OF the
ordinary mould and rather shabbily at
tired in a tattered and ill-htting coat OF
bluc. sadly faded and buttonless; short
WASTED vest of no particular pattern
fastened together by means of loos-
fnrd lccp of binding pulled through q
buttor hole and held to its place by q
stumpy lead-pencil with preponderance
az rubber at the end; the pantaloons very
baggy and fraying at the bottoms, as
Though in excessive sympathy with a
pair of coarse ungainly army shoes that
wore the appearance of having been
through "Sherman's march to the sea-"
Not remarkable. / say, in these par
ticuars. for since 'tramping" has ar
rived at the dignity of a profession, such
characteristics are by no means uncom-
mon but when taken in conjunction with
a head and face that would have served
as model for either Abraham, Isaac or
Jabom in patriarchal cast of feature
and flow of beard, it is no wonder that
my fancy saw in the figure before me a
remarkable man. He stood uncovered
and In an eager listening attitude
though drinking every syllable to the
very dregs. His eyes were large and lus-