The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-18
) GOES SLUMMING-By Alice Hogan Rice

 @ credulous audience the prominent part which he was taking in all the affairs of the day.
 Matters reached climax one night when, after some close financing, Joe Rid der took Mittie to the skating rink. An unexpected run on the tin savings bank embarrassment, and by the closest calcu- lation Joe could do no better than pay for two entrance tickets and rent one pair of skates. He therefore found 1t nec- essary to develop a sprained ankle, which grew rapidly worse as they neared the rink.
 'I don't think you ought to skate on 1t, Joeg' said Mittie sympathetically.
 "Oh, reckon kin manage 1t all o. K.." said Joe.
 "But I ain't again to let you" she de- clared with divine authority. we can just sit down and rubber at the rest of them"
 Nav, you don't" said Joe; 'you kin go on an skate. an I'll watch you"
 The arrangement proved entirely satis- factory so long as Mittie paused on ev- cry other round to rest or to get him to adjust a strap, or to hold her hat but when Ben Schenk arrived on the scene the situation was materially changed.
 It was sufficiently irritating to see Ben go through an exhaustive exhibition of his accomplishments under the admiring glances of Mittie, but when he conde- scended to ask her to skate and even of- fered to teach her some new figures Joe's irritation rose to ire. In vain he tried to catch her eye; she was laughing and clinging to Ben and giving all her atten- ton to his instructions.
 Joe sat sullen and indignant, savagely biting his nails. He would have parted with everything he had in the world at that moment for three paltry nickels!
 On and on went the skaters and on and on went the music and Joe turned his face to the wall and doggedly waited. When at last Mittie came to him, flushed and radiant, he had no word of greeting for her.
 Did you see all the new steps MT. Ben learnt me?" she asked.
 Nav" said Joe.
 Docs yer foot hurt you, Joe?'
 Nav" said Joe.
 Mittie was too versed in masculine moods to press the subject. She waited until they were out under the starlight in the clear stretch of common near home. Then she slipped her hand through his arm, and said coaxingly:
 Say now, Joe, what you kickin' 'bout?'
 Him. said Joe, comprehensively.
 MT. Ben? Why he's one of our best friends. Nav likes him better'n anybody I ever kept company with. What have all you fellers got against him?"
 "He was black marveled at the hall all right said Joe grimly.
 What for?"
 Tt ain't none of my business to tell what fer" said Joe, though his lips ached to tell what he knew.
 Nav says all you fellows are jealous cause he talks so pretty and wears such stylish clothes"
 "We might, too, if we got 'em like he done," Joe began, then checked himself. Say, Mitte why don't your maw like me?"
 "She says you haven't got any school education, and don't talk good grammar"
 Don't I talk good grammar" asked Joe anxiously.
 q don't know" said Mittie; that's what she says. How long did you go to 
 Me? Oh, off and on bout two year. The old man was always boozin', and maw, she had to work out, till me an the boys done got big enough to work. Fore that I had to stay home and mind the kids. Don't talk like the other fel- lers, Mittie?"
 "You talk better than some," said Nit tie Loyalty.
 After he left her Joe reviewed the mat ter carefully. He thought of the few ed ucated people he knew; the boss at the shops, the preacher up on Twelfth street, the doctor who sewed up his head after he stopped a runaway team, even Ben Schenk, who had gone through the eighth grade. Yes, there was a difference. Be- Ing clean and wearing good clothes were not the only things.
 When he got home he tiptoed into the front room and, picking his way around the various beds and pallets, took Ber- ney's school satchel from the top of the wardrobe. Retracing his steps he re- turned to the kitchen. and with his hat still on and his coat collar turned up he began to take an inventory of his mental stock.
 One after another of the dog-eared, grimy books he pondered over, and one