The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-17
HERE stood in the forum a figure
 Y rugged and uncouth, but interest- ing. The mans face bore the

\0 rugged and uncouth but interest 1 ing. The mans face bore the marks of many battles, few of which were victories. His clothes were neither expensive nor we'll tailored and they did not have the appearance of frequent visits to a pressing club. His hair grew long
 because he had not the wherewithal to pay a barber, the menu for his family
 table would have cast discredit on To- cent lunch resort and opulence was not conspicuous in his home. Although he stood long in public places and exhorted the people they turned away to read the baseball bulletins or else consult the
 dope" regarding late achievements on the race track This man conducted a paper for purpose rather than for money and as a result bill collectors were far more numerous than subscribers; he la bored and talked in vain, for the world cared not for his honesty or his princi- pies Although he was ever in the public eye he was honored with no office save that of president of the Reform league which he organized himself. Wherever he went people pointed him out as crank and while he had more brains than his traducers they usually contrived to make him look like a wienerwurst man at a colonial ball. This man worked all his | life and amassed no ducats. He was not even regarded as a prominent citizen, be- cause he had too many principles and was thought to be something of ''xnocker.
 When he died his family missed him be- cause he had ma.-aged to keep the wolf 1 away from the door but his more distant relatives remarked knowingly that he was failure. This man had convictions.
 l Tn brilliant assemblages of men, where wealth and beauty were gathered together there was often to be seen man of pleasing mien who dressed well and ap- parently subsisted on the best in the land, for his waist line was ample and his laugh was that of person who eats three | good meals a day. This man was much sought after by his fellow citizens. On all | occasions, both private and public, he was central figure. In fact he was what the vulgar term All the cake" He talked much on momentous occasions but he never said anything and he was loudly applauded. This mans fellow citizens de- lighted to honor him whenever the op- portunity was afforded and in course Of time he held many offices. His home would have been palatial had he possess sed one but he found it more convenient l to live a single life In apartments that were the talk of the town. When his opinion of public affairs was asked he so | answered that the public was kept guess | ing and in all his affairs he spoke in a voice that was soft and low He be- leved in persuasion. This man led conn- fortable life. tasted of all the pleasures at hand and died in peace while his friends rent the heavens with their lam entations He did not indulge in phil anthropy but everybody thought he was benevolent and his grave is marked by handsome shaft of marble. This man had graft
 Crashing. splintering thunder rent the heavens, black clouds were piled omin- ously along the horizon and swept up until they overcast the sky. From end to end the Armament was torn by the bat tie of the clements that was raging and as sheets of rain gistened in the light ming flashes a wind came hurrying out of the north. roaring If hungry to sweep away houses and cities in its angry rush. Tongues of lightning darted through the clouds like serpents; over the earth pail was cast and the whole world seemed to be covering before the expected lash ing, but there came up from vast null titude assembled on a plain an answer ing roar that almost silenced the tur- bulent clements. There was a great seeth- ing mass of humanity which swayed to and fro in wild excitement. Were 1t not for the absence of wounded one would have called it a battle field. but these hories were actuated by another motive In the midst of thousands stood a man with arms calmly folded. Though sur rounded by a host of his fellows there was on his face stern look Of re- solve and he gazed out beneath the vizor of his cap with cold eye upon the peo- pie and the stormy heavens.l He was not a prophet, leader. or great orator swaying the world by his eloquence. It was Casey calling the game on account of rain in the last half of the ninth with the score ? 10 ?.
 It is interesting to note the variety of dialect which is attributed to negroes by writers In different parts of the country Scribes in the east have devised won derful language which they attribute to southern negroes and that invented by western authors is just as wonderful but different It is noticeable that the negro dialect written by southern authors varies almost as much as that in other parts of the country, with the exception of that written by few masters of the subject. Joel Chandler Harris is perhaps the great- est interpreter of negro dialect who has ever lived and Thomas Nelson Page is a close second. but the negro characters of these authors talk very different lam