The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-26
VULCAN SAYS HE ISN'T TREATED RIGHT Iron Man Rails Against His
 Present Condition REVIEWS HIS HISTORY Says It's Up to the People of 6irming- ham to Raise s25oo and Put
 Him Upon Red Moun-
 tain.
REVIEWS HIS HISTORY

Vulcan, the iron man. in an interview with an Age-Herald reporter yesterday af- ternoon. resented keenly the manner in which he has been treated by the people of Birmingham, and intimated that for the last six months he has been the ob- 1ect of what Is little less than base in- gratitude on the part of the residents of this community.
 Tt i'll becomes a man of my heroic temper" said Vulcan as he stood in patti ent majesty on Twentieth street at the foot of Red mountain, ito complain or even to murmur against the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune; but there is surely a limit to all things-a point as the saying goes when even patience ceases to be virtue and continued silence develops into positive cowardice. I think 1t Is high time that some one spoke out | m no uncertain tone regarding the in- dignlties to which l have been subjected the prolonged neglect of which I have been a victim. l had hoped for, though experience with the world should have l taught me not to expect, decent treat ment from the sons of men. l regret to state that this hope has been rudely shattered.
 Tt is not a pleasant thing" continued
 Vulcan. with repressed emotion, ito dwell upon ones misfortune, but I think am well within the limits of restrained statement when I say that I have been the victim of the coldest neglect ever manifested toward what might be regard ed an interesting public figure. It was no fault of mine that I was brought into this life-that I was given shape and form and led to believe that I would, whatsoever might happen, be vouchsafed a local habitation as well as name came into being through no solicitation. desire or even intmation on my part. Con- tentedly and peacefully I was sleeping in the everlasting hills that girt this city-well satisfied with the life I was then leading and having but one wish namely, that I might continue to exist in the rude, crude elements out of which l was shaped into being.
 When the psychological moment ar- rived, however. and the summons came, it occurred to me that I, too, might sub serve a useful purpose. and right gladly did I consent to be utilized. When word was brought that some one was wanted to do missionary work for Birmingham. I mindful though I was of my own shortcomings, willingly resigned my life of peaceful obscurity and said in apostolic language: Here am I. Send mel
 You all do know" Vulcan went on, ''the mission had the temerity to under take, and you all do know also with what success performed that mission I recall now the pleasure and the pride that came to me as I set out for St. Louis. and even now at the thought of 1t, my heart beats high as I see again the throngs of men and women who stood at my feet at the exposition and looked up wonder ingly and admiringly at my massive ig- ure. It seemed to me then that 1 was doing something really worth while-that I was advertising the Birmingham dis triet-the place and the people-effectively and that come what might, I would be always cherished affectionately by the people to whose service was giving the last full measure of devotion.' Truly, thought I, as I stood all those weary hot days there In St Louis. those also serve who only stand and walt
 Later. however, there came a change and I cannot find words to tell how pained I was when I learned that I was becoming the object of cold neglect-that even the persons whom had served long and well had ceased to be interested in me. One day-shall ever forget it?- word came to me that I was little less than a peon, a vassal, a slave--that 8 load of debt rested rpon my head. and that. like bondman, I might at any mo- ment be sold in the open market to ex- tinguish financial obligation triat rested on my shoulders. Then it was that my heart almost broke, realizing as l did that I had been brought into the world unpurchased and unpaid for.
 Do you wonder that my shoulders dropped at the thought of it. that my knees smote together in humiliation and that my chin fell heavy upon my chest in abject shame? In this great country the land of the free and the home of the brave'-I, of all men, was bondman--a slave, a wretched creature who had not the wherewithal to breathe once more the air of his native home or look once again upon it's everlasting hills.
 .'Then it was that l contemplated sui eide. How easy, l thought, would it be to court death and in a trice to shuffle off this mortal coil! Nearby me. there in the exposition grounds. was the mann moth figure of a Buddhist priest and of- ten we would walk abroad and exchange condolences. One night l intimated to him my suicidal intent, and he, while svmpathizing with me, won me. with his sweet counsel. from so violent purpose. If, however, I had then known what was in store for me I would surely have de- clined to suffer longer human ingratitude and sought relief in a dishonored grave.
 ..Of what followed l really have not the heart to speak. The waiting ana the long suspence-the filings and gipes or every miserable penny-a-liner in the land-and the finger of scorn pointed at me continually by all who came and looked upon me. At length. however, Tn some way, know not how. l returned to Rirmingham Was ever there more mis- erahle homecoming? How different was 1t from the home-leaving year or more