The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-04
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

ride no more. After all it pays to go slow, and although jockeys like Fuller and Creamer do not make the princely salary once drawn by Sloan, they are in a far better fix than he is today. Sloan is now in Paris and has dropped out of the yellow papers with the rapidity of buckshot in a pool of water.
 It Is a queer state of affairs when a young millionaire can be spirited away from the midst of our minions of the law and held for a large ransom. eYt this seems to be what has happened to Ed ward L. wentz. who disappeared in the mountains of Wise county, Virginia, about three weeks ago. For days friends and relatives were at loss to know what had become of him and he could have been easily murdered without anyone being the wiser. From late developments it seems that he is being helA in the Cumberland mountains until the sum of $100,0O0 is handed over for his reaease This sounds like fairy story of TBe Orient, but in re- ality it has happened fight here in the south and there seems no other way to save the young mans bSe but to yield to his captors' demands. Although this is 'hold-up'' of the groEsest sort Wentz keepers have the uppdt hanra decidedly and seem likely to get the ransom of re- ports are authentic.
 The Chicago Inter-OaeSn tells an anus ing story of how a society leader relieved the ennui of "function' ij. Brazil, Ind. In order to give the young ladies glad surprise she arranged win her cousin. youth of more vacuosity than intellect, that he should enter the rtCm at an ap- pointed time in the disguise of a tough and fire six shots from hss revolver. The scheme worked beautifully until after the shots were fired, when the gentlemen present engaged in a delightful ten-mile chase after the supposed tough. As the latter was aware that they carried shoot ing utensils with them. ard moreover had a stout rope he uttered prayer of thanks as he slipped from his exhausted steed and realized that he haa escaped. This reminds us that humoriSts on Chicago papers would have hard time for ideas
 
 rural communities in Indiana. The great McCutcheon has amused thousands by his caricatures of Bird Center happenings and many others of his draft have been pleased to make fun of the Hoosier state Just why Indiana has cofNe in for such large share of darts from the funny men is not hard to understand when once that state is visited. There are little towns where it would bs possible for a great many ridiculous things to happen that are chronicled in daily papers It is distinctly a state of fssmers. To city people 1t presents a dreafy expanse of loneliness and ennui.
 The Georgia Daughters 5i the Confed- eracy have plan on fool to establish home for old and enfeebled ex-slaves who served the south faithfully during the war. This movement does credit to our humane feelings and will be only another token of the affections existing between white people and their former sercitors. many of whom are now in poverty. There are not many old slaves remaining now, and 1t would not be a great tax to pro- vide homes for all of them The Georgia ladies have secured an option on a piece of land of four hundred acres, where 1t is proposed to give the negroes a refuge This land will be devoted to truck farm ing, so that the pensioners can be made as nearly self-supporting as possible. The work will be light and will be so allotted that each will be able to attend to their task The idea is a good one and one that will receive the hearty cooperation of all true southerners who have a memory of those stormy days when no one was left at home to protect the mistress" save "Old Jane'' or 'Old Bob" P c.