The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-15

brace, and each mad scene lit by the glare of volcanoes of savage passions! But the long agony was over"
 In the sorrow and distress of individ- ual soldiers whose loved ones seek re- lief and assistance from those high in authority. the author takes advantage Of the oportunity and shows Abraham Lincoln not only as the true friend of the south but as a noble. charitable and Just man. In the scene between Stoneman easily recognizable as the strong leader of congress, opposed to Lincoln and later responsible for the attempted impeach- ment of President Johnson, and Presi- dent Lincoln which is a stormy one, Stoneman says with a sullen sheer;
 'T have always known you had sneaking admiration for the south
 T love the south It Is a part of this union. l love every foot of it's soil every hill and valley, mountain, lake and that breathes beneath it's skies. I am an American.
 AS the burning words leaped from the heart of the president the head and shoulders of his tall form lifted and his massive head rose in unconscious heroic pose.
 T marvel that you ever made war upon your loved ones,' cried the cynic
 " We fought the south because we lov- | that she is crushed and bleeding at our feet-you shall not make war on the wounded, the dying and the deadr Again the lion gleamed in the calm gray eyes"
 A vivid and dramatic scene is given in the subsequent assassination of Pre- sident Lincoln and it's results.
 'The tragedy was stupefying-it was unthnkabe-it was the mockery of Patel
 Men walked the streets of the cities dazed with the sense of blind grief. Every note of music and rejoicing be- came a dirge, All business ceased. Every wheel in every mill stopped The roar of the great city was hushed and greed for a moment forgot his cunning
 "The army only moved with swifter spring, tightening it's mighty grip on the throat of the bleeding prostrate south
 "As the day wore on it's gloomy hours and men began to find speech they spoke to each other at first in low tones of Fate of Life, of Death, of Immortality of God-aud then as grief found words the measureless rage of baffled strength grew slowly to madness On every breeze from the north came the deep muttered curses"
 The authors wonderful powers of visualization are manifest in these des- l criptions and his choice Gctlon in the vivid mental pictures conveyed. l A comprehensive but very concise ac- count of events follows giving the his tory of congress and of individual ac- lions and the reader follows the ima- ginary personages of romance to their home in Piedmont. South Carolina. The swift and terrible occurrences of the darkest period of the life of the south are described with truthful accuracy until suddenly from the mist of the noun tains appeared white cloud the size of mans hand. It grew until it's mantle of mystery enfolded the stricken earth, and sky. An Invisible Empire had ris- en from the field of death and chal- lenged the Visible to mortal combat"
 The remaining chapters describe how the young south led by the reincarnated souls of the Clansmen of Old Scotland, went forth under this cover and against overwhelming odds daring exile, impris- onment, and a felons death, and saved the life of people" The work of the Ku Klux Blan forms one of the most dramatic chapters in the history of the race. The history Is fraught with senti- ment, and stirs deeply the most sacred memories and tenderest feelings of the southerners But the authors delicate and purasve sense of humor relieves the dark picture and gives the needed contrast of brightness and joy. "As the young German patriots of 1912 had organized the great struggle for their liberties under the nose of the garrisons of Napoleon, SO Ben Cameron had met the leaders of his race in Nash vile. Tennessee, within the picket lines of thirty-1ve thousand hostile troops, and in the ruins of an old homestead dis cussed and adopted the ritual of the In visible Empire.
 within a few months this empire over spread territory larger than Europe. The triumph at which they, had risen to snatch power out of defeat and death Under their clan-leadership the south ern people had suddenly developed the courage of the lion, the cunning of the fox, and the deathless faith of religious enthusiasts.
 Society was fused in the white heat of one sublime thought and beat with the pulse of the single will of the grand wiz ard of the Klan at Memphis. Women and children had eyes and saw not, ears and heard not. over four hundred thou sand disguises for men and horses were made by the women of the south and not one secret ever passed their lips" l
 'Yessah! dey wuz sperits, ridin white hosses wid fowin, white robes en big blood red eyesl De hosses wuz twenty feet high, en some CT de sperits wuz higher dan dis cote housel Dey wuz all bal headed, 'cept right on de top whar dere wuz CT straight blaze CT fire shot up in de air ten foot high!
 " What did they say to you? "'Dey say dat ef 1 didn't design de sheriff's office, go back ter farmin' and | behave myself, dey had CT job waitin fer me in hell, sah. En sho's yo'r born | dey wuz right down darl
 "'Of course. sneered the old Common CT.
 "'Yessahl Hits des lak I tell yer. One | ob em makes me fetch I'm CT drink CT | water 1 carry two bucketsful ter i'm 'fo | git done en I swar ter God he drink | it all right dar for my eyes! He say it wuz powfu dry down below, sah En den feel feel sumfin bus loose inside CT me en I disremember dat come ter pass
 Don't you call me master yelled the | old man.
 a'Are you the sheriff of this county ? 1 Aleck laughed loudly.
 'Na-sah Oats CT jolSel hain nuth- in but CT plain nigger-I wants peace, judge
 'Evidently we need a new sheriff. "Dat's what I tell em, sah. dis morn- in'-en I des fling myself on de ignance CT de 4cote.'
 Thomas Dixon, IT,, is one of the most interesting figures in American literary l life and his books have caused more discussion. perhaps. than those of any l of his contemporaries. He is anative or | North Carolina and descendant of | sturdy sScotch Covenanters, whose loyal | ty, 1t Is said were maintained by the Ku Klux Klan in the troubled days of the