The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-05
THERE was once upon a time a
 acKsmith-Vulcan.

-HERE was once upon time a
 acKsmith-Vulcan.
 J He was enamored of his art to such an extent that he did not permit his mind to dwell on politics, the curbing of the trusts, or even upon the joys and miseries of human ity, worldly vanity and wickedness, or that tenderest of all passions, love.
 Therefore he was happy in the suc- cess which he achieved. He longed for no riches, enyied not his neighbor . surrounded by wife and children, nor even the potent emperor with the scepter which he swayed
 He made the implements of war 1mpenetrable armor and blades which flashed in the sun to strike terror to the hearts of foemen. He made the blows with which his people turned the earth to grow grain and fruit, and the reaping hooks with which to cut the ripened wheat.
 He was hailed the great benefactor of his country, and the envy of the equal his handiworl1 was complete " ONCi DdldhSCo Dy IHC lONC Ol IlOu- sands who blesesd him.
 Ambitious fathers offered him their daughters for wives and promised dow ries~to tempt prince. But Vulcan simply shook his head, for at his birth Wisdom had touched him. He sung as he hammered the molten medal, and delighted in the flying of the x sparks. He gloried in the knotting of I,i nd In ctr potl of h ic shoulders. He feared man not, nor the giants which strode the mountains. He loved the winds which blew with k der. The god of storms he worshipped. He grew like the gnarled oak of the forest. not beautiful, but majestic. From constant toll he grimed his skin, and his beards like darksome bristles, frighted the children, home from school.
 His work complete he left his forge unminded and sought his cavern for repose. At break of dawn he bathed in chrystal spring, joined his strident tone with joyful strain of lark, and crushed the rhododendron with his too fall.
 He thought himself invulnerable, LQlS VulCdu, III HIS oCl lSu5tH.
 He had no personal beauty and made no complaint. He had no fine raiment and needed but his apron and his sandals. He had no riches to tempt the thief in the night or the woman with passion.
 But he had scorned the female and Venus was ambitious.
 coo charr, fhic hoqct fn dn Y,ov will" the qIIeeh of beauty thought, T can rest content for endless days that my powers are unequalled. can twist his strength and intellect to manufac- ture dollars to line my chest with silk --and lace and string my neck with pearl"
 So well prepared with artful subter- fuge, she visited the grimy smith one i, day and spoke to him. She whispered \ In his ear alluring music and talked Yof spring and love and gentle things. But Vulcan worked along and an swered not.
 The following day the scheming queen, fresher than the spring and just as beautiful, again trod the smithy floor. She praised his strength and made him check his toll to show her HOW HIS luuSClC0 AOWOu VI JulnPCu about his arm.
 Her perfumed hair she breathei against his face, and pouted sweetest lips most temptingly.
 But Vulcan stood like forest oak un- bending to the autumn storm.
 And Venus, then, for fear lest all her plans would work impotently, threw herself upon his breast, and II occSxy< v,tx r, perfect arms
 And as the man of iron stood stupe- fled, she pressed with feverish heat her lips to his.
 Then Vulcan thrust the woman far from him. She left with stamp of little foot, but still determined on her plan to win. '~f The third day Venus apeared in sim pie dress and praised the work of master craftsman. Then Vulcan smiled. N She thought no finer blade had ever snicked bone than that of his. The blow he made was perfect in its turns, and she marvelled at the sharpness of its edges.
 And Vulcan, smiling still, revealed his art to her. .4
 
 By dint of subtle argument she bound him hand and foot and led him high on Mount Olympus. And Vulcan's mind by shrewd insinuation turned on worldly thing. He dreamed of gold, the glory of earthly power and the flavor of possession.
 Through loss of friends he suckled young ambition, and soon became the 1 wealthiest man of all the country \.gound.
 He gave the artful Venus dainty food h feast upon, gowns of silk to clothe her velvet form, a diadem for golden ,ylocks. and strung her body down with 4 gems and precious stones. He loved his work because 1t gave him power <