The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-22

N T the foot of 8 mountain stood V youth who gazed at the peak towering above him with a great longing in his eyes. The reader can easily guess that the youth will be forced by the development of this romance to climb the mountain. All about him lay an in- viting plain where fountains threw cooling moisture up Into the air, birds were sing ing melodiously, flowers were in bloom and hundred delights charmed the vis- ion. Here were bowers where the youth could have whiled away his days in pleas ant pursuits beneath the shade of trees. Delightful streams that were pure without filtration coursed through the land and the atmosphere was so radiantly clear that smoke consumers were unknown.
 In this plain the youth had spent some happy years but now the time had ar rived when he would have to take his de- parture up the steep passes of the noun tain to the distant, glittering pinnacle which was called Fame. In his pocket he carried his Diploma, in his right hand was a staff which he called Honesty and on his feet were a pair of s35O shoes which he called Perseverance, The noun tain loomed up hugely before the youth and he hesitated to begin his arduous journey but could not resist the hurry call of Ambition, so he pulled his Pan anna about his ears. shrugged his we'll tailored shoulders and bent low as he as- cended the first eminence.
 The youth toiled on, at times pausing to cast his eyes over the broad pan orama of hills and valleys disclosed to view. His gaze rested longingly on the shining plain which he had left behind and he was seized with a desire to re- turn. All about him was the grandeur of mountain scenery when nature exerts herself to abash insignificant man. Tor rents rushed down the ravines with in- cessant roar, great precipices frowned down upon him and in the distance gilt tered snow-clad peaks like sentinels of the ages that looked with cold contempt on the struggling youth with feet already weary and shoes in need of a half-sole.
 Now and then the youth came to pleasant pike leading away from the path which he was pursuing. These inviting ways were paved with asphalt, whereas the road traversed by the youth was strewn with countless bouIders, and they led away to attractive resorts where the voice of falling waters mingled with the clink of glasses, the tinkle of musical ont
 men singing. The youth was tempted to turn away and rest in one of these pleas- ant places where all the delights of A swell summer resort were to be had, but he set his face courageously toward the heights and In course of time he came to an inn by the wayside where rest and retrshment were afforded weary travellers. This was the Hotel of Esteem. It was run on the European plan of pay for what vou get and the youth was glad to be there. even though the prices were trihe high.
 Had the youth been of common mold he would have ceased his journey at this nm and would have tarried there in com Tort Tor the remainder of his days, but he felt ambition urging him on and after a. night of rest and refreshment he started out in the morning with a renewed de- termination to push onward and upward until he had scaled the heights to which fame beckoned him in his dreams The youth had now reached mans estate. As he went along the pathway became more rugged, and the scenery more inspiring. Great chasms yawned at his feet the cliffs were twice as high as those en- countered earlier in his journey, and while the byways leading to the pleas ures and temptations of lire wera farvar