The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-17

do unselfish things.
II There's such young man in Bir-
mingham; he is Mr. John B. Erit, a
young Italian, who, with the love OF
country dominant in his heart and the
welfare of his countrymen closer to him
than any personal gain has with phe-
nomenal energy interested himself in
helping his compatriots qualify for Amer
lean citizenship, and bringing to them a
clearer and a more complete understand
ing of the underlying principles of
democracy, and that these great United
States of ours is not country of one
man power but that it's sovereignty rests
with the citizens of the republic.
| Our idea of the exotic foreigner par
ticularly those of southern extraction is
| the dolce far nente type"-the dler-
the diletante-but this is refuted en-
tirely in the case of this clever, progress
| sive, untiring, young man, who, besides
his activities as public accountant and
commercial lawyer, has found time to
devote to the interests of his fellow men
and that he has met with hearty coop
e; alton and appreciation of his efforts,
| is evidenced by the fact that he is held
| in high regard and warm affection by
| his fellow countrymen in this district and
elsewhere
Mr.. Erit was born in Genoa Italy, but
came to this country when he was quite
young-being little more than a boy now
and located in New York, where he
studied commercial law, finance and ac-
counting.
AS the representative of a large syndi-
cate formed in Genoa, Mr. Erit came
south last spring; this syndicate was
formed for the direct Importation of cot
ton, naval stores, and other southern
products, but on account of Italys
ploughing into war was suspended tenn
porarily.
Mr.. Erit is beautifully educated; he is
a splendid lnguist and a lover and pa
iron of the fine arts, music, literature
and all that goes to make up the Gull
tIred, intellectual personality.
He has had many interesting expe-
rlences since coming to this country,
notably his work with the Italians of
New York city, modelling in clay for a
year with the Italian children of the
ttchmond hill district; he also repre-
sented the Italian participation in the
Hudson-Fulton celebration in New York,
and served as chairman of the Italian
Fourth of July commemoration in New
York. He was president of the Genoa
Columbian society in that city also
Mr.. Erits latest activity has to do
with most commendable idea regarding
his fellow countrymen in the Birming-
nam district numbering now approx
mately 5000; this is the organization and
establishment of the Cavour Civic club.
of which he is the founder and president.
Thirty-seven members have been en-
rolled since the formation of the club
last week, and in speaking of the plans
OF the club Mr.. Erit said yesterday:
The idea of the Cavour Civic club is
to have weekly meetings which shall be
primarily educational in their tendency:
Were the constitution of the United
states may be learned in English, and
all other requisites for good citizenship
may be acquired
one OF the greatest problems con-
fronting the American commonwealth is
the proper assimilation and Americaniza-
ton of the Italians dwelling in its midst"
he continued. ITO accomplish this much
TO be desired result. it is of paramount
Importance that the strangers within our
gates be awakened to what citizenship in
this great country means-the duties as
we'll as rights that devolve upon those
who would enjoy this great privilege and
WISH 10 WrlgntSVllle beach. Miss Shan
non spent sometime in Raleigh, N. c.,
as the guest of Miss Julia Manning.
Misses Myrtle and Irene Kemp have re-
turned from Birmingham, where they
have been beautifully entertained by
relatives.-Tuscaloosa News and Times
Gazette.
Mrs. r. R. Darden and her two chill
dren, Robert, Jr., and Franklin Miles,
left yesterday for visit to friends in
Nashville.
Mrs. e. F. Cain and Mrs e. T. Moore
OF Wetumpka are the guests of Mrs.
John Cain.
Mrs. Baxter Eastburn left last night
for Greenfield, o., where she will visit
Mrs. James Sutherland