Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-23
OUR SOCIAL WORLD

U U 1C N V V h4AA VI
 (AlI items of social interest will be gladly noted in these columns if sent to Mrs. George c. Ball, Nineteenth street. between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. South High- lands. Telephone 9SS)
 The recurrence of anniversaries such as that of yesterday-W birthday-have a value far beyond that given it by the patriotic sentfmentalist. These days, returning with the changes of the zodiac, possess for our nation vital import. for they renew the ardor of our citizens for what has been accomplished by American intellect and American val or and bring to our children annual ob- ject lessons in national history. NO one who is a close observer or the trend or thought in these times can fail to appre, ciate the tremendous increase Of natlonai sentiment and pride in all sections or our country; and, be it said to our credit, in no American city is this feeling more encouraged and fostered than Just nere in Birmingham. From every Puphc school building yesterday hoated the stars and stripes, which, with its forty five stars is the ensign of the greatest nation on the globe. It's folds were ca ressed by the southern winds ana warmed DY the rays Ol our SoutiiCti oNiis and the southern hands that raised 1t were as loyal and true as those which hosted it within sight of Bunker's Hill or Plymouth Rock. These flags were an announcement to our busy community that a fact in American history was De- ing celebrated. Every man, woman and child was made aware by its silent teach- ing that the father of his country was being honored by united, loyal people. Appropriate exercises were held in all our schools on Friday commemorative or the anniversary, and every child went 10 ms or her home with the fire of patriotism kindled afresh in their young hearts.
 In no section repeat, is the love of country and pride in the national history stronger than in the south, and writers or other sections, students of political econ omy, claim that southerners will be the representative Americans of the future. There is nothing startling, nothing sur prising, in this, and certainly the state rrlent Is not made in order 10 f1atter our vanity It is a truth, borne out by every day facts Our people have chiefly sprung from sturdy, honest English stock. Our forefathers were largely younger sons of honorable English, Scotch and Irish families, who came to this country to seek their fortunes when the colonies came into existence. In cer- tain localities representatives from noble Huguenot families settled and began life of religious freedom in this new lana. From these people we have come, With their love of God and principle still throb- bing in our hearts. We have married generally among ourselves for more than a century; very few SouthernerS nave thus far married foreigners In this way, and because of these antecedents, our interests and sentiments are largely iden- tical. We are conservative, though an enthusiastic, people, and are not easily turned from the beaten track of principle. We stand for the faith of our fathers, despising innovations, which only s1gnfy change. We approve of progress, but will not tolerate a restlessness that breeds distrust. Anarchy cannot find foothold with us, because the germs Of this foreign contagion cannot exist in the pure atmosphere of our section. And then we are a people who have faith in strict quarantine measures, and we do not hesitate to say to all moral and bod fly disease which finds it's way to our shores from infected foreign ports: Thus far shalt thou go, and no further" We are brave, self-satisfied people; we be- lieve in ourselves and acknowledge no superiors. Foreign wealth and title pro duce no undue excitement with us; the breeding and training of generations are safeguards against disgusting toadyism and snobbery. We still hold that charac- ter and intellect outweigh coin, no matter whether silver or gold, and the same standards of excellence obtain that made our IOreIdInerS IUe HE leSi tApOHSHtS Ol American manhood.
 All the agencies which engender patri- otism-Americanism, if you please-are TOW encouraged as never before by our people. This is strikngly illustrated by the growth of the orders Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Wherever these organizations have been formed they have fiourished and in creased if properly managed, notwith- standing so many erroneous ideas exist as to their value and usefulness. The prejudiced or uninformed have failed to appreciate the importance of these or ders, and some who are members of them have not yet risen to the best view of this matter. To consider either organization as a stepping stone to social preferment is small way of estimating eligibility to either. That they have certain social surroundings no one cares to deny, but the grand object intended by the orig inators of the organizations was to pro- mote and encourage love of our coun- try by renewing an interest in American history and holding up before their de- scendants the lessons taught by the deeds and sacrifices of long dead heroes. And this pride in the achievements of brave, dauntless ancestry has proved an in- centive to many a tried, discouraged man and woman who battle against ruthless fate. A man or woman who is content to be unworthy of the record made by an honorable ancestry is unworthy of mem bership in any order like unto that of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. One who is satisfied merely to bear the name made honorable by dis tinguished forefathers. doing nothing himself to renew it's lustre, is too inferior to merit the consideration of any part of a community. The value of an ancestry is that what was accomplished in the years that are past should prove an inspi- ration to present endeavor. We should make an effort to be worthy of a history that is luminous with brave, good deeds. The miserable satisfaction felt by com monplace representa- of honorable names in the mere fact that they bore these names has brought upon this in- ferior class of humanity merited ridicule and abuse. No man or woman is in any wise worthy of the good names of brave men who are not filled with a desire to attain as nearly as possible to the goal set by their ancestry. To boast of fore fathers of whom we are unworthy is to bring upon us very justly the condemna- ton of a discerning public. Unless the r;I of i'm <I,o