The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-28
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS
Walter L. Johnson brings spring.

Walter L. Johnson brings spring.
 Some one said spring had not arrived.
 
 It isn't so was down on Third avenue and recently saw a string of newly painted open trailer cars on their way to the barn.
 and went up against the Barons, and spring is now in full blossom. | This Is to be a story of Walter L.. Johnson. but if you are a mere baseball fan skip it, but if you are also real human being and not mere baseball bug read it.
 | Who is this Walter L. Johnson? If you don't know, ask your 1o-year-old boy, and he will give you his record in the big league.
 1 I was passing through the .Tutwiler and saw Reuben Lewis talking to big, strapping, clean-made fellow. Soon Reu- ben joined me and as his friend passed out sdiu There goes IldH WHo HldhcS | ST. 900 a year.
 1 l thought perhaps it was the new pres ident of the Sloss-Sheffield company or the general manager of one of the ether big industrial plants.
 "Who pays him and for what?" I fired 1 at Reuben for somehow I thought per 1 haps he was stringing me. Its Walter Johnson, the greatest pitcher in America. thought you knew all the celebrities" he answered.
 Then want to meet him. I said, and So as he strolled back our way I was introduced to him and felt my hand in la vise-like grip. I knew then that Reu ben was giving me straight steer. eff you are not engaged, let's set down and talk awhile,'' I said. Alright he answered. I suppose he thought was going to talk baseball to him, but sur Iprised him by ignoring it altogether.
 He seemed to appreciate it and soon was telling me about his 4O0-acre farm near Coffeeville. Kas. If Mrs Mathis had overheard us she would have thought had fallen into the hands of a county demonstrator. :. I dare say, Johnson can talk volubly about baseball and baseball players, and about close games and warm up over some of his great pitcher battles. for he put pep into his farm talk, It was re- freshng to hear the clean living, clean minded. clear-headed athlete go into rap- lures over his cattle and brag, not about his great powers as a pitcher, but his success with his herd of cows.
 Said he: Not long ago I went down in Georgia to see a fellows farm. He had about 50 head of cows and was glad to get 80 gallons of milk day. Why, get that much from less than a score"
 
 How do you do it?'' I asked.
 First, said he, "I bought the best I could get, and then fed them properly He was telling me what IIolzer had just told me-"its the breed and then the feed'
 
 Reared on a farm, Walter Johnson finds his greatest pleasure in spending his winters on his place. He says some folks ask him if he doesn't find 1t lone some. Not at all," said he. "I am too busy to get lonesome"
 (There are two other men on the team whose motto is, Back to the farm.")
 
 Walter is no fancy farmer. He knows the farming game just like he knows the ball game, and when the time comes he can get his living working the ground and pitching hay just as easy as he now gets it by knocking grounders and pitching twisters.
 He says Kansas for years depended on wheat and corn and when bad years came went broke, but said he: Tt has learned to diversity crops, and Alabama will never be rich farming state until it quits relying on cotton.' Pretty good dope coming from spitball artist.
 I asked him about farm methods. "The tractor is revolutionizing the preparation or the SOll, Salu ne, Just as autOmO- piles and good roads are making life on the farm more attractive"
 He said he couldn't get used to our hills and mountains. He lives in a prairie country where there is little wood and less coal.
 What do you do for fuel?" said I. "Oh." he replied. that gives me no trou- ble. I have my own gas we'll and use 1t for heat and light" Can you beat it for convenience.
 When asked about water he said they had to depend on cisterns. as it was hard to get well unless one was close to the bank of creek or river He had bored wells time and again. but tho water was brackish.
 Whats your side line?" L. fired into l him.. Dogs" said he. ''what breedr' queried "Coon," he answered. Just think of it. He said he wished he could get the chance to hunt them down south. I am surprised that some of the Au- gusta boys, where the Washington Amer jeans have been in training. did not take l him on a hunt. Perhaps Clark Griffith. | the astute manager. discouraged 1t for | fear his priceless pitcher might get lost