The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-24
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

Since writing my views of Frank A.
Vanderlip's message, have had so many
to ask me to write my impressions of
Frank A. Vanderlip, the man, that the
easiest way to give answer is through
this column, not that it will make any
difference to him or them, but just to
be obliging.
Now the first thing that struck me
about him was he seemed to radiate
cleanness. Some people are Clearly and
yet never look clean, but he both was
and looked it. His complexion was as
fresh as a young girls, and he had the
appearance of one who had just stepped
out of a bath, although he had just
alighted from delayed train.
I daresay that some of our debutantes
and matrons would like to learn his Sc
cret of being superior to the travel stains
which causes many of them to dread
to have to face the light after having
spent hours on the train. l have, how
ever known a few women who could
sleep in day coach and wake up in
the I1OTHlUS dllu SIdhS lllSuioSANSo anu
give their hair a few pats and look
as alluring and dainty as if they had
spent the night in their own boudoirs
The cleanliness of which I speak in
the case of Mr.. Vanderlip was more
than skin deep. That was the most strik-
ing thing about it. He appeared to be
clean in body, clean in mind, clean in
heart and clean in soul. It's great
gift to be able to do this. / studied
his face closely and it's a fine one in
every way, and l was glad to have a
very cultured woman say to me on the
way out from the lunch at the Tutwi-
ler II think Mr.. Vanderlip looks so
wholesome
We are always talking in this TWEEN
those old Athenians were not ashamed
to prate about manly beauty. Now it will
no doubt be amusing to distinguished
New York banker to be talked about
as though he were a matinee idol-but
this is just what I want to avoid. He
was handsome without being in the least
the type of a man that any woman would
rave over. He had the look of manli-
ness and sincerity which is the best
passport anyone can have who hopes to
be leader. I tried his appearance, so
far as l was concerned, with the "acid
test" for if 1 had any amount of gold
would unhesitatingly trust him with
"a he cold fn a his
fortune. People trust him.
Newspaper men never have any trouble
with real big men, it's only the little
make-believes who pose and pretend that
they do not like publicity. The man
in this day and generation who does
not know the value of getting properly
before the public will not so far in
any walk Of life. The very biggest men
in the land are learning the need of
being known If they hope to be leaders
in society, business, art, the church, or
any other sphere where personality
counts.
Some Of the committee were bit afraid
that he would not care to be photo
graphed. If this had been true he would
be a poor salesman, for that is just
what he is, and a big job of salesman
ship he has before him to put out two
billion dollars worth of "baby bonds .
It's up to him to get acquainted with
the people, and / knew that he had
sense enough to know it / found that
he wasn't the least camera shy and was
most obliging in posing for several pic
lures.
DR.. George Lang. the president of the
Presbyterian college, who spoke at the
Red Cross dinner recently, boosted that
he was proud to be professor, even
though at one time to be called 'academ-
ic'' was enough to damn a man; but
that with the retiring premier of France
an ex-professor, with the same thing in
Germany, and with President Wilson in
the White House. he felt that he was
in the line Of promotion.
Now here is where I want to brag a
little. / wanted to tell him after his
speech that Clemenceau, the present pre-
that Lord Northcliffe, next to the pre-
mer of England, was the dominant fig
ure in Britain; that Frank A. Wander
lip, who was on his way to Birmng-
ham, the great banker, was a reporter,
and won his spurs ON the Chicago Trib-
une, and that I was member Of The
Age-Herald family and had hopes, etc.
Back to Vanderlip. He is big man
physically. weighing over 200 pounds. I
Judge, by looking at his feet, that they
would crowd No. 10. In spite of his
white hair, which he parts in the mid
die, and the little marcel waves on either
side, he does not look old, but gives
out the appearance of great strength. !
noticed that he wore little jewery. A
small gold flag in his lapel, pair Of
simple gold sleeve buttons and little
stick pin that was hardly visible to
the naked eye was his portion. He wears
his clothes we'll and has the air Of a
well fed. we'll groomed, prosperous New
Yorker.
He did not have the dollar mark
stamped on his face or clutched in his
hands. He is more than a money grub
ber He is one of the big bankers with
a vision. Money is to him but the means
of new adventures. He uses his great
position to girde the earth SO that wher
peace comes America will not be left