The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-06
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 so much attention not only throughout the south, but in the west, as well as in the east.
 It is tr1e that it never realized the quar- ter of million dollars, the figure set by my enthusiastic nephew, J. Mercer Bar nett, but it wasn't his fault, for he mace a trip to New York and did everything in his power to make the Presidents bull bring fancy price.
 Now, iust word about the value of the l bulls sold here on Tuesday. I made it point to talk with Dean Curtis before he judged and after he judged the cattle. I sat next to him at lunch and l also sat next to him for several hours while the sale was in progress. I found him to be a man who could consider well his state | ments.
 There was much excitement while the prize winner was being sold. When he was knocked down at st0,OOo l asked Judge cally worth the sum paid for him. lie unhesitatlngly answered that he was worth that amount to head any herd ol Shorthorns in the country in the hands of those who know how to handle prize winning cattle.
 I watched him as he was judging the bulls on Monday afternoon. He went about it as an expert, unhurried but yet
 
 with the eyes of a connoisseur, and no point of beauty or value escaped his cage gaze You could see his eyes light up when he stood alongside of a genuine shorthofa which came up to the require ments of the breed.
 After selecting the prize winner in the had them carried up into the park. Soon q circle formed about the bulls. He wen, over each of them critically while they were at rest. He then had them led around and watched their movements For the final test-they were brought back into center Of the group. was standing next to Fred Jones, the president of the Southern Cattlemen's association, the man who had said at the lunch that he knew good bull when he saw him, and that Sumter county was coming to the sale and was going to carry home one or more first-class ones.
 
 1 could see that he was nervous as Dean Curtis was appraising the gooo points of the little roan and the big red. The great judge seemed to be carefully weighing their good points 1 knew what was passing in Freds mind, for he ha picked out the Ravenswood bull as the Friday before. For one tense moment il looked as if the man from Iowa was go- ing to put the blue lon the junior, but Hhen ne pointed his f.nger at the great red beauty, friend Fred let out a shout, for he had made good on his boast that he knew a good bull when he saw him It was d picturesque spot where the bulls were tethereG and judged After it was all over I said: Dean, l suppose this is the first time you have ever judged lot of bulls in a row of magnolias" Iie laughngly replied ITO tell the truth, was so taken up with the cattle that 1 hadn't noticed the trees, and yet they are we'll worth looking at" Each of u- sees the things in which we are inter- ested. I could write a story about this. but won't do it now.
 The parade was all that could have been wished for by the fondest bull en thusiasts. The day was perfect, the bulls were magnf ficent the chaperons lovely, the soldiers handsome, and the crowds nor. It was an unusual affair, but 1t was the beginning of a new era in the cattle industry in Alabama, for it was the sign that at last the state hat' awakened to the fact that the scruo was to be driven out by the thoroughbred.
 There were some amusing incidens. Al the park on sporty little road car painted d fiery red sat two of my nieces whom l weit up to greet. While chat ting with them the parade came anu alongside stopped big bun and gave them and the car the "all over" and low cred his great head. Our backs were to him, when up stepped d ,ady and saiI, T don't thinh he likes your color scheme. My nieees gave him a frighc- ened look over their shoulder and out ci the car they came, to the amusement of the crowd, which had been watching them and the bull.
 It was a good -natured throng which packed the park. There were many auto mobile parties which came from the SUI. rounding towns and parked on Capitol square, | saNSbankers, lawyers. doctors, cattlemen, farmers, manufacturers anu merchants from various portions of the state. Tom kilby was hid n the crowu, but proud that he was down for thou- sand or more to buy bull to give to the Farmers union to be offered as prize as they saw fit to encourage the cattle business in Alabama.
 1t was d Shorthorn sale, but 1 saw quite lot of breeders of Jerseys, Hol- steins, iterefords and other fancy stocA in the AatLcring. John Dunaway the famous breeder of Herefords at the Wes, Dallas Farms, was on hand and bought one for the Orrvil'e Red Cross chapter cite this to show ine spsf'i or the eat tlemen of Alabama. They all stand up