The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-02
PENSIONS FOR
 THIN GRAY LINE Pathetic Scene Enacted at
 Probate Court REPAIRS CAUSE DELAY Aged Veterans Who Came to Get Their Certificates Had COnsid- erable Trouble in Getting
 to the Office
REPAIRS CAUSE DELAY
BY JEFFERSON G. BELL

Yesterday was pension day for the old Confederate veterans From mid-morn- Ing until sundown the totterng men crept in line before the table of the burser at the probate court office, N. A. Graham, and each in turn received with an eager hand the pittanee doed out through the generosity of the state. There were 26o of them.
 Many of the old soldiers bore them selves erect with the same valorous spirit which characterized their actions in bat tle as they went LID to accept the reward from the state, but the greater number were low-stopped and palsied and slid into the chair before the paying officer with their heads scarcely above the edge of the table.
 There were many whose eyes were bear and could not see to write, and there were others whose hands were feeble and could not hold steady for the signature other than ''his mark" but there was a comradely spirit still among them that broke out when face recognized face, and little groups were eventually gathered that could fight all the battles again.
 However welcome may have been the small gratuty that each old veteran re- ceived. it was not unattended with great difficulty and inconvenience. In the nrst place, the courthouse floors were being patched and the main halls on the ground floor were barricaded to keep hurrying feet out of the cement. Many of the old soldiers who entered the building from the west side found their steps barred but there was a window which afforded an entrance into the court room where the pensions were paid.
 Through this opening. which also was l half obstructed by lift, the old fellows dragged their weary limbs. slowly mak- | ing as it seemed. enc interminable pas sage. Finally when they had gained en- trance into the room they fell into line and looked happy for q while. Under just such an extenuating circumstance there was another and another forced To lose his place in the line while he left the room But after what seemed a long wait one by, one they were handed their pension certificates and allowed to pass out
 l Even here the trouble was not ended. The certificates were only good for the coin, and this necessitated a circutous journey down, around and under the labarynthine edifice up into the office of the treasurer where the exchange was made.
 | Among those who came as benehcias1es was the widow of veteran. She made repeated attempts to find her way into
 the office of the pensioner but was blocked each time by the Instructions about ;he fresh cement work on the hall floor. In her utter bewilderment she finally de- cided to wade right through the wet stuff. Before the masons were aware of her attempt she had crawled through the barricade and reached the center of the beautiful, smooth patch where she was halted by the storming voice of one of | the workers She almost had to be eject ed from the enclosure.
 | But the one great spirit of the trans action was that of joy. Every soul was made glad by that which was received, and every bent form moved away home ward with a leiscure'y step made lighter l by the gift.