The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-29
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 have been gratified at the interest
 which my personal friends and the pub lie have taken in this column. Every
 day I am stopped on the street by some
 one who has been kind enough to read
 1t, and been interested or pleased some i by the message it has carried. I some
 times get a brick as well as bouquet,
 but am a good sport and can stand the knocks as well as the perfume. |
 | l have been surprised at the number of letters that come to me. They come
 from the city, from over the state, and
 them being from entire strangers, but
 most of them bearing good will. When
 I first began to write for awhile I got
 unsigned communications filled with
 mean spirit and written on a typewriter
 that was ''wheezy.7
 1 I happened to mention the fact to my
 good friend, Dr. Edmonds, and he laugh | ingly said: T am glad you are on the 1 list, for I have been for quite awhile" 1 He pulled out a postal card on which, among other things, was written this sentence: "Old fellow, your popularity is | waning, you are on the toboggan." It seemed to amuse him, and yet he felt sorry that anyone who believed it was willing to go to the trouble to sit down and take glee in saying it to him anon ymously.
 I must have a rhinoceros hide or I would have been "hipped' ere this, for during the past 16 years as editor of denominational newspaper I have been a shining mark for the bucket letter" fiend, but I am sure if they knew just how little their spiteful effusions got on my nerves they would let up, for there is no fun in sticking pins in fellows skin unless he is sensitive, and that I am not.
 Now, like all men before the public, I welcome criticism that is frank and open and meant to be helpful Every editor is glad to get comments on his work. It is his way of getting at the pulse of the people. Many persons feature letters from their readers; but the ones intended
  in the conduct of the paper as are those marked personal" The more he gets of the latter the better is he pleased It makes him feel that he has 8 clientele that takes enough interest in his conduct of the paper to want to
 help him improve it.
 get many letters suggesting articles along a certain line. I cannot always act on them, for frequently I have no special information on the subject. For example, a few days back Col. Ed Smith wrote, asking me to write story show l ing the difference between the Maxi malists'' and the "Minimalists,' and the things for which they stood, and some estimate of their strength. It was a splendid topic, but alas, I didn't know anything authoritative myself and could not get on the track of anyone who did; for at present Russia Is an unfathom- able sea in which many pirate ships are afloat and pilots are changed after each battle. Yet, was glad that he was in terested enough to pay me the compli- ment of thinking could give the public some light on Darkest Russia"
 
 Frequently some public spirited and thoughtful man reads a book or an article which he thinks worthy of special notice, and he calls my attention to it. For example. MT. J. w. Donnelly was kind enough to write me about an article in November Worlds Work by Page. hope to be able to use it in way that will be helpful to those who want to know more about why we are at
 war with Germany.
 Not a day passes but some good woman at the head of some worthy charity asks me to write a story about the institution which is on her heart, in order to in- terest the public in it. I have written many such appeals and expect to con tinue to do so; but, if I turned this col ump into daily cry for financial aid. people would soon tire of it and pass it by. I wish, however, to tell those who are bearing the burdens of keeping our charities alive that am with them heart and soul and will aid them to the extent of my ability. Ihave said this to make myself clear, for yesterday I had three requests to write up institutions, and all of them are in every way entitled to | the public support
 l After I had written my column for a week, a kind friend who had known me | from my youth up, said: Frank, you have done fine so far, but am afraid at the rate you are going you will soon
 run out of soap" He meant it in all
 kindness He didn't see how a fellow could pound a column daily, every day in the week, and every week in the year. Neither do l, but somehow up
 to date have managed to get by with
 the help of my readers, who give me | tips in person or through correspondence. ] I think, however, that more of my l friends are puzzled as to when I find | time to write the column than they are as to how find matter to go in 1t. They jokingly say that they are continually
 running across me on the streets. in the l hotels, at church, in conventions, at lunches. dinners and banquets, on the i trains, and that they know I am a
 bird of passage. flying here and there over the state and the country at large
 and that I never light for long any,
 where It seems to mystify them as to l my method of work.
 To rest their minds will state that