The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-08
CHAPTER 21

I'm inclined to believe that be- ginning like that-whtch was in truth the real beginning-migh have worked the wrong way upon some persons particularly most persons who Rived there along with me in the prison.
 But while I was simply trembling with delight and appreciation in Wardly. I kept a calm exterior. and even secretly I was not forgetful or how seeming success In a begin nlng might be Hkened unto the sue cess of a prospector who found the body of ore. but instead of its prov ing to be a vein, 1t proved to be a mere pocket. Moreover, I had been trying in thought to train against that too common a defect of al- lowing the eyes to be dazzled by glitter.
 l managed to keep in a frame of mind which at once held gratitude and strengthened determination, vet would not cause me to run entirely away with myself
 Right here mention must be made of one particular matter The whole of that second or fifty-dollar story was built upon material furnished me by one of the officers at the prison who had formerly been an inspector Tor street railway. When my little success began to make quite bit of talk around and through the institution, he was not ready with any great demonstration of joy, yet l knew that he was glad.
 He causually told me something concerning his past work and l quickly saw in 1t a story; and while he would never take unto him self any of the credit for whatever success I might have had and am stlIl having, as a matter of fact I owe a great deal to him in that par tlcular way. And to this latter date am glad to count him, one of those who formerly stood as guard mad counselor to me, among my real and best friends.
 I Try Verse.
 The stimulating effect of those three acceptances caused me to break into verse for one little four-stanza production.
 That went down on my record as mistake-even though I felt, and yet feel, that the lines contained a measure of truth. A crime wave happening to start at this tuncture side.
 In order that the reader may understand fully how that jingle of a composition worked against me, I shall here write it again:
 
 when.
 Nor know we who first said it; But someone told the sons of men Perhaps he wrote with a goose-quill pen
 GA truth 'tis now, just the same as You can't keep a good man down. We heard those words in our child ish play
 And liked their sound and meaning. Ana thought we, in our child-like Of some strong man who refused to stay
 Where he'd been thrown-but who rose to say You can't keep a good man down." And now, with all of our child
 thoughts fled l And life's hard tasks before us, We wonder oft 'twixt hope and dread
 And sometimes, mirthfully instead What thought men, when 1t first You can't keep a good man down." But why think back to the long ago? ! Our work is here close by us. And though we may be sad or gay Or, mayhap, down and out today If we'll but rise; then of us they'll say,
 You cant keep good man down.
 This was written for the editor of magazine in the northwest, de- voted to the interests Of the under dog.
 It Proves A Boomerang.
 He had several times asked me to write something for him, but because of the fact that ! was trying so hard to land something with a publication that paid for contributions ] failed to do anything for him gratis. But getting that one hundred and ninety | dollars to my credit caused me to | feel so good that l recalled his exc pressed desire, and straightway wrote him.
 My verses and an editorial note of 1 explanation brought local newspaper | criticism. The prison administration was attacked, and the inmates, too. The other prisoners believed the | versltication was boast on my part
 Poor old cynical Brown was, so far as l Know, the only other inmate who took anything like a philosophic | view of the whole situation. Well" said he, when I met him on a lower stairway one afternoon, you're causing a lot of murmuring among the multitude again.
 "Yes, 1t seems that I am, Brownie," l replied. What ought I to do about it?"
 Do nothing. Just let the heathen rage. Keep on doing good work" That was the best suggestion