The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-10
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

mingham. I found out that he was the son of Methodist preacher and lived for years at Cartersville, Ga. sam Jones home town.
 He said one day after the close of the Tabernacle service, which was yearly feature in cartersville, conducted by Sam Jones, assisted by other prominent evan. gelists, that Sam. George Stuart and Alex came to dine at his home.
 They all were in fine spirits. Sam was in a particularly rollicking mood. Turn Ing to Willingham, who tipped the scales at about 22O. and who seemed to be put ting away lot of good things, he said in that peculiar drawl of his:
 Brother Willingham, I hope and be- you feel kind of shamed of yourself to be setting here enjoying fhis good dinner and your wife back there at home living on just plain home grub?'
 One morning during the meeting Sam, notifying Rev. J. L. Morrell, who was at home sick, announced that Len" Morrell would preach in the afternoon. It seems that Dr. Morrell was given to pretty plain preaching. After the ser mon, Sam got up and said; Well, folks, you have had the cornbread and the olack-eyed peas; come back tonight to near me and I'll give you your deserts"
 This reminds me of an incident that hap oened in Alabama. For twoscore years ! preacher had served four country churches in a prosperous farming section. His salary had always been small, but his church members thought he had plenty to live on as he had a little farm.
 After service a man living nearby in- 1ited a number of the members to dine with him. Among them was the old good things. The host called on his pas- or to say grace. He did so, and look ng at the feast of good things, got up md said to the hostess: Please excuse ne, but I must go.'
 
 Everybody though he was sick and all lsked after his health, but he protested hat he was feeling well. They pressed i'm for his reason. Turning and facing hem he said When l thought of my lear wife back at home sitting down to ! meal of cornbread and greens, I just couldn't have eaten of your dainties with ut choking"
 There was a great to do among his Buggies and wagons were seen ,oing to his home. His pantry was filled rom the day he refused to live on the fat # the land, while his consecrated wife at down to humble fare, to the day of Ms leath
 Sam Jones knew in his early ministry what it meant to live hard and how it pressed heaviest on his uncomplaining wife, and in the midst of feast, half in est but more in earnest, he used Willing nam just to let out what was running though his own mind.
 I was interested in MT. Morrelfs state ,lents about the grip Sam Jones had over lis home town, Cartersville, Ga. It seems le was kind of bishop, mayor, board If aldermen, superintendent of education LII rolled together and that what Sam ,aid went.
 He told me of a wreck that occurred lear Gainesville and how MT. Jones had ,ared for the engineer and how for years he picture of Sam was hung in the cab ,f the engine. He was permitted to climb ID and ride with the engine drivers when- ever he wished.
 I was told by him that in front of the engine of the special train bearing the body of the dead evangelist to Atlanta was placed a full-sized portrait of him. He snd MT. Thomas, the president of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad, were bosom friends.
 When I lived in the home of Dr. James B. Hawthorne he used to tell me many things about Sam. He was great ad nirer of the fearless preacher.
 dare say Sam told more good jokes and had more hitched on to him than any preacher who ever lived in the south. It may be apocryphal in saying that in answer to a warning of the bishops that if he didn't conform more strictly to Methodist rules his license to preach would be taken from him, he is reported with them tor score of years, but believed he could preach just as well without them He may not have said it, and they may not have made any such lntimation, but it sounds like Sam Jones' sass.
 man told me he was present when Sam Jones stole a poor joke and later made it famous. It seems at public gathering in Atlanta a local celebrity told it rather poorly, but Sam saw it had meat in it. My friend says he saw twink.e come into Sams eyes and later he gave his companion the wink, as much as to say Just watch me, Bud; I'm going to appropriate it and put it over.' He did.