The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-09

Late in the evening last week a man
might have been seen Walking along the
tracks of the North Bessemer car line
He was headed toward Brringham and
from his appearance had Travelled far.
The night was bitter cold and the solitary
wayfareE shivered as the cutting night
Winds beat down the lonely track.
As he neared the grounds of the Ala
hama state Fair the heavens were mo-
mentarily Illuminated by flare from
the blast furnace at Ensley. disclosing
the well known features of Copernieus
Jones. ex-president of the knights OF
Rest.
lie vas returning from the convention
recently held in New orleans by the great
anwashed tribe of wanderers. and had
had rough time both soing and coming
80 that event, for the advent of the wan
derers was Leralded along all the rail-
road lines leading to New Orleans and
at no place We're they allowed TO tarry
At every town and hamlet they were
told to keep a moving and the fast
freights We're hard to catch, SO closely
were they watched at every stopping
place.
However. copernicus made 1t fairly wer
from New Orleans ON his return journey
until he struck Bessemer ana only a
quick sprint saved his capture at tha
hands of a special policeman stationed
in the yards, who discovered him as the
train rolled IN Ceper made his get
away. however, and striking the tracks
of the Birmingham Railway. Light and
Power company "hit the grit for Bir-
mingham.
As Was stated. the night was bitter
cold ard as copetnieus saw. the fair
grounds loom in sight lie made Up his
mind TO spend the remainder of the night
in one of The exhibit buildings and 10
plan out line of action for the morrow
Arriving at the gate he found little diff
fieulty in scaling the fence and quickly
made his way to the main building.
passing the iron statue of Vulcan ON his
way. lie glanced up at the high statue
and just as he did SO the blast furnace
again nared up and to his intense sur
, prise he saw smile of recognition pass
over the stolid features of old Vulcan
and as quickly disappear. as the light
i from the furnaces died down.
Corperneus was startled and ii takes
something unusual to startle that much
| travelled philosopher. He forgot the cold
and eazed again and again at the giant
| figure, but the smile did not return. Final
! ly Copper decided that he must have been
mistaken and that the fiickering shadows
We're responsible for what he presumed
| to be smile, so he moved on to the
1 in b11i16fntr 81 f4t4fhrgfl
| by means OF a broken window lie went
upstairs and found a stove and the ma
terials for making a fire in one of the
| display rooms. and soon had the place
warm and cosy He had the remnants
Of lunch in his pocket and after re-
calling Himself pulled out his pipe and
soon was as comfortable in his own way
as millionaire in his mansion.
As he smoked his thoughts wandered
to his late experiences and he pondered
on the smile that he thought he had
| seen on the face of old Vulcan. He
remembered the ycssitudes that the old
iron man had passed through and COM
pared his experiences TO his own event
ful life At one time Vulcan lay for
months OH a lonely spot on the top of
Red mountain alone and neglected and
had q furnace been convenient it is pos
sible that he might have been retulned
10 IFS original elements.
The grateful heat from the stove an /
the soothing fumes OF his pipe made
Copper somewhat drowsy and Just as he
was about to fall asleep he fancled he
heard the door of the building open and
| heard a noise as if someone was mount
| ing the steps with much difficulty He
was used TO be on the alert and ready
at all times to beat q retreat. but on
this occasion he. was unable to move.
Some unseen force seemed 10 hold him
and rendered him speeehless. Slowly the
steps advanced and IN the dim light he
saw a huge form advancing toward him.
I Nearer and nearer ii came, evidently With
| much difficulty as though it's limbs were
stiff, and as 1t approached he thought
he recognized in the somewhat dim and
shadowy shape a likeness To the iron
statue that he had passed previously in
the evening. Fright loosened his tongue
and IN a trembmg voice he said
Angels and ministers OF grace. defend
us2 Art thou spirit Of health or
Nope. answered the shape I'm Nul-
can, just old Nulc OF ancient memory
In olden times I was god and had the
honor OF forging the thunder bolts that
Jupiter hurled in his battle with the
Tnans. Mount Etna was my workshop.
with a branch forge at Mount VesnNius.
Long did ] tarry in those regions and
was happy and contenteG,
But like many mortals who are well
supplied with worldly goods. | was not
satisfied. / wanted new field Of en-
deavor. and searched Tor the mest Ia
vored spot in the world for my new
hoine. 1 traversed the universe and vis-
tied the great Industrial regions Of the
old World and the new. Having lived
several thousands years in my old home
/ wanted conditions that would be favor
allie to a residence equally as long. and
after long ana weary search j selected
the Birmingham district as the place. Us
matchess and almost inexhaustabIe sup
ply OF coal and ore and other natural hd-
yantages outrivaled any othar spot In
the world, and was beginning TO con-
gratulate myself on my selection when !
find that mortals. like gods. are some
what ungratefil, and that the best lad
schemes of gods as Well as mice and lAen
gang aft aglee. "
Il hope you will pardon my seeming
impertinence55' said Coperneeits, hang re-
covered his equilibrium during the recital
OF vulcan's travels, but what's hurting
y9u?"
AHurting me-" snorted Vulcan; what's
hurting me. you ask. Listen TO this;
About 10 years ago I selected this spot
as my home; land could be bought for q
song and the people made a living by
raising cotton and corn. | lighted-a fire
here and furnace there. Soon the wen
der of the mineral supply of this dis
trict was noised about; soon II came to