The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-21
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

 old prejudices.
 If you don't believe it just read some of the things he wrote about women. I wanted to talk about talking, and naturally thought of women; not be- cause Miss Jeanette Rankin, the &C., complished congresswoman, had hon ored us with visit and an address, but because the weaker sex" have al- ways been credited with using their tongues more than "mere man" I confess have always been fasci- mated with the stories of the famous salons conducted by the women of , France who had the art of cultivated and sprightly conversation themselves and the ability to cause men to talk agreeably. I remember with pleasure salon conducted by a brilliant wom an in the Latin quarter where l had the privilege of meeting some of the celebrities who regaled us with their causeries.
  to perceive" especially among women, growing disposition to regard intel lectual obstinacy as valuable ad- junct of conversation and to exercise it accordingly. "This is round about way of accusing twentieth century women of loving to dispute" I rise to remark that if the old Testament is to be an authority, that there were women in those days who were in the habit of contradicting their lords, or the wise old proverb maker would never have gotten by with the petulant saying, that life in a corner of the housetop" was better than with crawling woman in a wide house."
 Solomon in the Old Testament and Paul in the New Testament are the writers who have riled modern wom- en more than any other of the Biblical writers. Paul is specially under cloud with many because of his ad- iuration to the brethren in Corinth to forbid women to speak in the church. Now this has been a subject of disputa- ton among certain denominations from time immemorial. It is at present very live question in certain Baptist circles. But I am not at all inclined to thresh it out in this column at this time.
 I know that Paul has been accused of being a crusty old bachelor, and that the Corinthian women have been set down as forward, appearing un- yelled, which was contrary to the GUS tom of the country. l have seen the yelled women of the east escorted through the streets by eunuchs. But not content with showing their faces, they spoke their minds freely in pub lie assembly while garbed in fine raj ment to attract attention.
 Please bear in mind this is not n- tended as strict Biblical interpreta- ton, but is only meant more a S pass ing bit of pleasantly. The modern fear is that if they had taken the Paul line advice. 'if. they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home,' that they were shut up to mighty poor sources of information. Some liberal Bible readers are bold to say that Pauls injunction to the wom- en "to learn in silence with all subjection" was meant only for the flirts of Cornth, not for women gen erally.
 
 know one thing, they are treating sons listening in grim silence as Bos well told of the wonderful preaching of d Quaker woman, and of his un- gallant speech: Sir, a woman's preach ing is like a dog walking on it's hind legs. It is not done well, bYt you are. continue to do it, and no one who heard Miss Millar will agree with him. Many are not willing to merely for bid women to preach, but they are un- willing that she shall let her voice be heard in political assemblies. They got on school boards, became mayors, went to the legislature, and now Miss Rank ins voice has been heard in the halls of Congress and, so far, the dome of the capitol has not fallen, although those opposed to woman's suffrag ge think that the foundations are not as secure as they were before she put her feet beneath her desk and took upon herself the full duties of a congress- woman.
 I began talking about talk, and be- fore I knew it drifted into religion and a preacher and a lawyer. I really did not mean to get out of the drawing | room. and the first thing knew I was at church and in Congress. Having 1 gone this far I will go on record as | saying that some of the most gifted | speakers I have ever heard have been women There are a number of women I here in Birmingham who are wonder fully gifted when it comes to moving 1 vast audiences. I am not going to
 name them; knight leave out some one who thinks she can talk, and then would never hear the last of 1t. I am an ordinarily prudent man in spite of the fact that I want to be known as a man of courage. There are different
 kinds of courage. If Solomon thought