The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-10
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

to speak to the young women of the Alabama Technical institute at Monte vallo on the work of the Red Cross and I went down on Tuesday morning.
 
 I have always liked to talk to college hoys, and up to date have never side- stepped speaking to college girls when an opportunity offered; in fact, I am very fond of talking to young women en masse.
 Ii you can get in touch with college crowd they are fine auditors, and it is an inspiration to watch their expressive faces. had to speak at the Birming ham High school while back and few days before the date was driving downtown with two bright young misses on their way to the Central High, and asked them what I must talk about. Quick as a flash one answered back: Tt doesn't make bit of difference, just so you don't talk about our golden op- portunities"
 When I stepped out on the platform at
 
 and lovely faces of 500 young girls just budding into womanhood, l did not think so much of their golden opportunities, but felt that had a great opportunity to stir their hearts with the story of what the Red Cross was doing and how each one of them ought to and could have a part in it's mission of mercy.
 
 Mrs. Ross c. Smith of Birmingham had given me one of the Christmas pack ages to show to the girls. I did not know what was in it until I opened it before their eager eyes, and held up each article. I started with pipe, then sack of tobacco, package of gum, a piece of chocolate, looking glass, a thimble with needle and two coors of thread, paper and envelopes and much to my chagrin a package of playing cards. I may have forgotten something Yes, I remember now the look of pity that came over their sweet faces when I ex. hibited box of bachelor buttons. don think anything appealed to them as much as the buttons. Every one looked like I she felt personal shame that any sol der should be so unsoldierly as to have | to sew on button.
 1 Now I had an easy job in talking to | the A. T. I. girls, for it was the first school in America to get into the Red Cross work as a school. No provision had been made for schools to engage in | the work as schools until they took 1t | up. and for awhile they made it trouble some for the Red Cross headquarters at Washington, for there were no rules l to cover the new departure, but women generally get what they want in the long 1 run, so plan was devised to take them in. This was the beginning, the open | ing of the wedge, which finally widened until President Wilson called on the l schools and colleges to get into the work. l I believe that before the week is out they will have an organization In the school which will take in every pupil and teacher, for this was the definite aim they set themselves to accomplish that is those in charge of the work This ought to be an inspiration to every school in Alabama to get busy and uti- lize it's woman power to help make the boys more comfortable while they are fighting Uncle Sam's battle for democ- racy and self-preservation.
 
 To be a good Red Cross worker means more than to array oneself in becoming garb and parade before the public. More and more those in the work are realizing that they can serve at home as we'll as on the field. I know of no school 1T the south better equipped to train young women in the things which will make them useful than the institute at Mon tevallo. The domestic science building ii thoroughly modern and it's equipment , up to date, and it's teachers competent ) and the pupils enthusiastic I saw mucl to hearten me, for it means that hun of service backed by practical expe l rience in serving.
 , | I had to get up at day to catch al early morning train to reach Montevall , and double across country to get to Ga
 lera to catch train that would Ian, I me back in Birmingham at noon. I ha1 ' put in strenuous day Monday and al
 exciting night on account of the cleo tion, but I was more than repaid fo
 what little trouble took by the warr
 and gracious reception given me by tn
 faculty and the student body.
 : It was a glorious day. The campu n with it's great oaks and stately building s was an impressive sight while the Howe r garden was brilliant with many coiore e flowers and the views in the distanc
 with the crowns and the greens. and tn
 reds showed what nature can do in tn
 way of landscape painting when sh :. takes up her fall work in earnest s environment plays the part in develop d ment which the books tell us 1t doe e then the girls at Montevallo are havn e some and attractive surroundings.
 ss
 Five hundred girls preparing for the $ life work What human laboratory ft 9 the improvement of man. Thinkers ma
 invent all kinds of new theories, and :. believe in giving to women the wide r. range of activities, but know of no be n ter thing good woman can do tha
 to take some man and make good hu band and good father out of him, for
 SD doing she is safeguarding our Anne