The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-26
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 It's going to be about father and his 1 two boys-and the heroine, or woman in the case, is rare Jersey COW. with a 1 beauty in the animal world as striking as was that of Lilly Langtry, the 'tJer- sey Lilly" in the society and theatrical circles.
 l It all came about because l was iD search of something to fill this column and I went out to Bob Bells dispersal sale of fine Jerseys with no more idea of buying a COW than I had of stridins broom and jumping over the moon 1 In spite of the fact that I have studied psychology, anthropology and criminol- ogy I rather thought that ''brainstorms' were invented by advocates who were | in the middle of bad fix to save their clients necks and rung it in for the chance of calling in a lot of expert wit nesses to befuddle the judge and mud | d1e the jury.
 | , lightly of those whose moral stamina gives way under some sudden or power ! full urge and makes them do things which in their saner moments causes them to want to get somebody to kick them around the block for playing the fool I do not suppose I would expose my weakness so freely unless l was sure that each one of you who reads this will blush at the memory of sometime In your life when you were literally swept off your feet and did a very silly or foolish thing
 l It was this way My boy Frank said, Daddy, let me- go to the sale with you?' and liking to have him with me as much as possible, readily consented, George Bondurant, Jersey enthusiast, picked us up and away we went headed for Fulton Springs, the home of the fed | eral district attorney, whose boy, at the call of his country, was selling his herd to the highest bidder.
 ] Things affect people differently, but
 
 there is something absolutely fascinating to me about an auction. am willing to concede that eevry first-class auctioneer is hypnotist Anyway, I know the minute I come within their range l feel myself going. Actually I have bid at mock auctions when I knew perfectly well that it was skin game and that I was furnishing the hide.
 I had a profane friend who once in- veigled me, before my conversion, to attend a Moody and Sankey revival in Washington. He was deep student of lpsychatry and all the occult phenomena. and he asked me to sit on the front seat and watch Mr. Moody and then those who came forward under his appeals.
 He came to the conclusion that 1t was hynotism pure and simple and that MT, Moody was possessed with great hyp- notic power. I rather agreed with him then but I know better now, but as this is not to be story, on evangelism, I'll
 go on.
 When we arrived on the scene the
 cattle were being led around and soon the words of the auctioneer were drip
 ping like honey and the bees or bidders were busy and the atmosphere was charged with dangerous lure. I dipped
 in every now and then but some fel- low always raised me out of my boots
 and it seemed as if for once [ was to
 get by without having to put up for
 something didn't want. I was having
 good bit of excitement without its
 costing me anything.
 George had bought him a fine young
 bull and a beautiful heifer and several
 of my other friends had made purchases
 the lure of the auctioneer, but through
 the rush my namesake gave me. John Dunaway, my Orrville friend, greai
 breeder of registered stock, but finel
 than any of his thoroughbreds, bid 1T a Swear r-old, perfect picture of a COW Up rushed Frank with blazing eyes | that was the only one I wanted, wha1
 made you let that man get herr"
 turned to John and laughingly told hin that my boy was about to jump on me fol
 not outbidding him on the beauty he hac just bought. for when my son began te
 rave over her I took stock of her and
 she was about as dainty and graceful a
 bit of cows flesh as I ever saw.
 Then up spoke John, for he scented the situation and generously said, :. think she is fine specimen and wanted her for my herd, but if your bo,
 wants her, you are welcome to take hel
 for the amount I bid on her. had tt , come across or be a ''piker' in my boys friend that was something of "foul flusher," so I thanked him and gave , my check in payment.
 I had a .'brainstorm'' pure and sim l pie All my life I have hated cows l do not drink milk. do not eat butter
 There is no offense so offensive to m' as the smell of a COW, and yet I dug ! down deep into my bank account ant
 bought COW. have not yet been abl' to determine just how I feel. Was i Frank who gave me the needed pusb , Was it John, whose fine spirit tempted !