The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-17
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

John c. Dawson, professor of modern
 languages at Howard college since 1903
 who has just been elected dean, is one
 of the best equipped men in the south. 1 A graduate of Georgetown college, Ken
 lucky. he has done graduate work at
 Cornell university and also in France
 Switzerland and Germany. l There has just come to my desk a copy of La Petite Vile, Par Picord, eci-
 ted, with introduction, notes, and vocah-
 ulary. by him and published in attractive form by Ginn & Co.,, Boston. It Is a copedy of manners in post-revo- | lutionary France, satirizing life in the small town. The action is occupied with the adventures of two young Parisians
 who, because of an accident to their cille" for a period of 24 hours. The notes explain points of interest in connection
 with the French revolution and the period immediately following. It shows that the French, the greatest of satirists, have taken fling at what one of our American authors has dubbed city would be a mighty uninterestins place if small town people never moved In.
 It is gratifying to know that the little book is used in a number of leading schools It is evidence of the fact that the scholarship at Howard is abreast of the times.
 Dr. Dawson is greatly respected by the faculty and is a favorite among the alum nj of the college The students, perhaps, are not quite so enthusiastic. There is a reason:
 Dawson, although a professor, is still human. (No offense meant to other ped agogues). I've been with him in the country and at encampments, and he is a sure enough good fellow. There is no academic pose about him. But don't get 1t into your mind that he isn't imposing. He is about six feet and seven inches in height and every inch a man.
 The old timers will remember Colonel Taliaferro, the Tall Sycamore of Tennes- see," who came to Birmingham in the SO s and made such reputation as an advo- cate.
 When the boom busted he went to New York to live followed later. He set up for himself, but I became head of a department in a prominent Wall street
 law. firm.
 I had to go into court on motion days. There was always a room full of lawyers, each trying to get the eye of the judge.
 Justice Ingraham was bilious. I didn't blame him. I was complaining to the colonel about what time had to get the attention of the justice.
 why, Frank" said he, T don't have the least trouble. I get his eye imme- diately" q reckon you do," I replied. When you stand up and lift up your arm and point your long index finger at him, he can't see anything but your flowing locks, velvet vest, and dangling watch fob." He laughed and said: "I never thought about 1t, but I suppose have got a big advantage in getting noticed" It's an asset to stand above the crowd.
 heard one of the boys say that Daw- son wore pants 67 inches in the seam and "A in the waist. I reckon the professor had jacked. him up for being deficient in French and he was just trying to get even with him.
 Dawson is no mere linguist. He is an all-round student. He likes history, science, philosophy and general literature.
 happen to know that this bright young scholar has been called to the chairs of some of the greatest colleges in the south.
 They say a preacher never refuses a call to a. church where the pay is better. This may be true in 8 few cases, but on the whole it libels the ministry. I happen to know that Dawson Is mak- ing a great financial sacrifice to remain at Howard college. Why does he do it? It may seem strange to a mere money grabber, but this young man believes that he is needed here and so he stays  He is yet In his prime. I use Dawson because I want the boys and young men of Birmingham to know that what Daw- son did they can do if they are minded to get an education.
 He came out of the mountains of Ken lucky, getting a late start toward col lege education, working his way through as a printer in small office, getting
 much help from Jack" Pulliam, now professor of Latin at the University of
 Alabama, then a teacher in Georgetown
 college.
 | What are the rewards of the teacher! The paragraph above is the answer. It's great to be able to inspire and to help a worthy boy to make his way through l college and for him to be able to serve
 mankind as Dawson is now doing. l c3mINMMl9au1fH P. S.: If you want an education yor |