The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-22
PAINTER stood before his canvas
and a picture grew under the
swift strokes of his brush. He

swift strokes OF MS brush. He
painted an ocean that seemed to heave
and toss with a restless, ceaseless agita-
ton. Billows extended away in the dis
lance to gloomy horizon where black
clouds lowered ominousiy, assuming
vague and fantastic shapes, and lurid
sun burst through the riffs, shedding its
light upon the waste Of water. Looking
more closely one observed that the ocean
was In reality a sea Of faces" multi
tnde of human beings struggled In the
waves and were cast hither and thither
by the succeeding pillows. They fought
among themselves, the stronger pushing
the weaker beneath the surface and striv-
ing bodies of their fellows. On many of
the faces there was a look of ferocity
and despair that was appalling. Many
were consumed with but one desire and
that was to find resting place on a crag
that rose steeply in mid-ocean. Others
seemed resigned and sank beneath the
waves with an expression of eneffable
peace upon their faces. There were also
persons, here and there, who strove to
assist their companions and numbers of
stalwart men battled against the waves,
endeavoring to support women and child
rem who chung to them helplessly. Great
seagulls fled screaming above the sea
filled with struggling humanity. Now and
then a swimmer clambered upon the peak
of rock which rose above ths a.s"os. AL
| though quite a number of people had es-
capped to this vantage place where the
sun seemed to shine down upon them
moro indulgently and to shed all about
them a bright light, countless thousands
| remained In the water or were dashed
70 pieces on the reefs that protected the
| sole haven of refuge.
| The sea was life. The swimmers were
the masses who battle for the right to
live and the rock typified all the advan-
tages that may be summed up In one
ord,-"position." The ocean of humanity
was tossed by storms created and fur
thersd by power over which they
had no control. Thousands sank beneath
the waves, Just as multitudes of human
beings have been offered up to the god
of war in the storms of dssention and
strife that have swept over the world
at frequent Intervals since the beginning
| of history. At times the sun shone bale
/ fully on the ocean and weddings, faint
| ing under Its rays, abandoned the hght
| by scores, as races succumb to the blight
| ing breath of pestilence. The rock was
| the goal of all that multitude which was
| tossed about. Yet Its compass was so
| small that only an Insignificant number
could get a foothold there, even If they
| succeeded In climbing out of the sea.
| There was still plenty of room, for a
very small company had succeeded In
scaling the rock and reaching the top.
Those fortunate persons who were safe
upon the rock busted themselves in va
rious wsys. Some were engaged in feast
ing and revelry, with no thought of the
wretches who chung to the reefs below
and were swept away by the waves;
others strolled about with their eyes
| lifted to the clouds, so engrossed in pro-
found nieditations that they did not see
in groups disputing as to the best way
of saving few people from the sea.
| While they talked numbers disappeared
to rise no more. A small band Of earnest
men and women were throwing ropes and
life preservers to the struggling people
in the water endeavoring to save a few
lives. Those on the rock were the persons
| who had won fame and fortune. There
were millionaires, great scientists, noted
/ g..
tune had smiled. The wealthy were in a
large majority. Scores of men and women
| with great souls, genius and ambition