The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-12
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

worthy of the name of research or study, to set forth the doings of the great, or strive to be brilliant. It will make no special appeal to highbrows Society may safely pass 1t up. The sporty will be bored. It's going to be written for the average man and woman and made just as informal as home talk around the fire side.
 My object will not be to inspire or in- form I have no theory to propagate, no reform to uphold, no special informa- ton to impart. My sole object Is to tell about men, women and things, in chatty way, to please, or amuse. The column hopes to be kind of confidential talk with the reading public
 Now, having given notice, let those who care for little gosspy news draw their easy chairs close up to the fire and place their feet on the fender, while tell them from time to time what see, hear or think.
 was passing the corner of Twentieth and Second avenue the other afternoon. The newsboys were crying their wares. who evidently was not used to city ways. In her hand she held letter. but she didn't know how to put it in the mail box. Quick as a flash. a little newsy doffed his cap and in manner that would have done honor to Chesterfield, opened the lid and i,,r 1,a T 4f.oI street car with joy ln my heart that the streets hadn't been able to rub out the training that boy had gotten at home, or been able to kill the boy spirit within him. For, chided by his companions for his gallantry, heard him say: 'G'wan, or I'll knock your block off,
 Birmingham is getting more and more to be- headquarters for various commer- cial, social. religious and educational en- terprises. Dr. William H. Smith, formerly corresponding secretary of the foreign mission board of the Southern Baptist convention, with headquarters at Rich mond, Va, comes to Birmingham as edu- cational secretary of the Baptists of Ala bama. His office is in the Brown-Marx building. His job is to raise an endow- ment of $3O0,O00 for Howard and the Jud- son. Dr. Smith is a cultured southern gentleman. He and his charming family will be quite an addition to the social and religious life of Birmingham.
 pr. L. c. >Branscomb, one of the Ala bamians present in the Senate when the Sheppard bill passed has played con spicuous part in the religious life of this district. Pastor, presiding elder and now editor of the Alabama Christian Advocate, he has been and is at the heart of south ern Methodism. As pastor he was known for his piety and preaching ability; as presiding elder, for his tact and executive capacity; as an editor, he Is winning lau- rels as scholarly writer. letter of Grover Cleveland, written in his small, feminine hand. It covers two pages and was written to John c. Henley, IT,, at the time he, Babb, Hornady, Sparrow and other newspaper men launched the Ad- vance. I read it and fingered 1t with bit of awe. Agree with him or not, Cleve- land was a man of force. I dare say John Henley will hold to his presidential letter with pride and hand it down to his chill dren as a. keepsake.
 This reminds me that among our wed- ding gifts was silver bonbon dish and spoon from Joel Chandler Harris. You may be sure that it will be handed down to my children to be treasured as an heir loom from Uncle Renus," whose stories of "Brer Rabbit will live as long as boys and girls have ears for tales.
 There was a man In town the other day who reads more studies maps more, and thinks more about the great war than any man of my acquaintance. It's Bob" Hayes of Woodstock. He sits in his store and devours papers, magazines and books until it has gotten so that whenever there is any dispute about the war, for miles around they hotfoot it to Bob" He not only is abreast of the movements along all fronts, and the battles, but he relates rything to the civil war, which he has on his fingers tips If I were in doubt about anything connected with diplomacy, strategy, or finance concerning the Eu- ropean madness, I wouldn't seek some great managing editor, but I would jump on the train and go and sit at the feetd of my friend at Woodstock.
 
 The other day, I got a letter from Burr Ferguson. It harked back to old days when he. Jim Shelley and were the big three" in all the athletic circuses. It was in the eighties that few of us got to- gether and formed an athletic club. Henry Underwood, cousin of Senator Underwood, then cashier of the American National bank, was one of the moving spirits. We hired the top floor of a big building on the southside. Later moved to the Potter building and then to the old First Methodist church on the lot where now stands the Hillman hotel. If you want to know how Birmingham has grown, just picture the growth of the Birmingham Athletic club from it's humble quarters on the Southside to it's magnif- cent home on Twentieth street. A few of s..e old timers will remember Courteney, the first instructor. Many remember the Miles brothers and nearly every one knows those now sponsoring it. Burr is pou, r, Iraru,,oon of ENduamo far Tin, iu