The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-01
E belonged to the soil and yet he
made a picturesque figure in the
lobby of q city hotel. This man

IL
this rural preacher bore on his face the
impress of a hard battle with life Swart
and burned by the sun, his cheeks were
crossed by deep burrows, bespeaking both
the flight of time and cares such as fall
to few toilers in the city or in the fields
His clothes were diseolored by age and
brown with dust His hat was old and
dllapidated. His ministerial coat and vest
were It sad odds with his cheap, striped
trousers and about his neck was the pro-
verbal celluloid collar. In one hand he
held a quaint little satchel that had long
ago outlived Its days of usefulness and
about him there was the weary air of
man who has striven much without re-
suits. When he spoke with a voice deep
sonorous and slow, his words proclaimed
him reader of books, while in his ewes
was the far-away look of a dreamer who
has been trying to forget painful realities
In the rural community where he lives
that man is a power for righteousness
and on Sunday morning he can be found
exhorting his flock from a humble pulpit.
There are few comforts in his home and
his ehiefest joy in life is wo-is Always
only to fail-sueh man is an object
lesson. His sad homely face. all battle
Scared and weather-beaten. tells more
eloquently than words of the struggles
he has encountered.
1t is related that since Princess Victoria
was operated upon for appendicitis the
London surgeons have been besieged by
society women who insist that they are
suffering from the same complaint Moth
Ing but an imaginary operation will Salts
fly these deluded butterflies. Surgeons to
society call this fad appendicitis of the
mind" 1t is nothing but rank snobbery
The anti-loan shark bill, which has been
ordered to its third reading by the Illi-
nois legislature, is a move in the right
direction. Perhaps literature IS RESPONSE
BILE, perhaps not, but there is a prejudice
against loan sharks which Is increased
by the fact that these gentry seldom do
anything to improve their regulations
A highly-eoored story Is going the
rounds which relates how a man who
was at one time mayor of a large west
street with pick and shovel in order to
keep his family from want. His career is
merely another example of the uncertain
ties of politics, so they say, but it is
poor politician in these days who gets
down to manual labor after having once
held office.
The announcement that a professor
was arrested for trying to sell diplomas at
$50 each reminds one that the glad COM
mencement season is again near at hand.
In another month wiseacres will begin
grinding out their annual installments of
advice to graduates Some of these mes
sages will be good-humored and tinted
with the soft radiance of retrospection,
others will be a trlhe ddact1c and still
advice and the pleasure of such charity
Is not to be foregone.
The Legislature of Wisconsin has passed
ar anti-cigarette law and 1t appears that
coffin nails" are doomed. Cigarettes in
were not for what is usually behind them
when they are lighted.
A picture of contentmentl A little fell
low was seated on a stool before a soda
water fountain and on his face was a
look of unutterable satisfaction as he
slowly imbibed a fluid tinted ruddy